Assessment of Platelet Count and Platelet Distribution Width among Sudanese Patients with Dengue Fever in Kassala State, Sudan

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection and a significant public health concern in Sudan, including Kassala State, where outbreaks recur. The infection is often associated with a decline in platelet count and changes in platelet distribution width (PDW), both used as candidate diagnostic and prognostic markers of disease severity. This study assessed platelet count and PDW among Sudanese patients with dengue fever in Kassala State and compared these parameters with those of healthy controls.

METHODS

This comparative analytical cross-sectional, laboratory-based study included 50 dengue fever patients and 50 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy controls from the same source population. Platelet count and PDW were measured using a Sysmex KX-21N hematology analyzer.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 38.5 ± 9.8 years, and 68.0% were male. Disease severity was classified as mild (32.0%), moderate (38.0%), and severe (30.0%). Platelet count was significantly lower in dengue patients than in controls (95.5 ± 59.5 vs 250.9 ± 70.1 ×10⁹/L, P < 0.001), while PDW was significantly higher in dengue patients than in controls (24.8 ± 5.7% vs 20.6 ± 5.5%, P < 0.001). No significant correlation was observed between age and either platelet count or PDW. However, platelet count decreased, and PDW increased significantly as disease severity increased (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Platelet count was significantly lower in dengue patients than in healthy controls and decreased further with increasing disease severity, while PDW was significantly higher than in controls and increased further with increasing severity.