HomePhilippine Scientific Journalvol. 43 no. 1 (2010)

Blood Transfusion Practice in the Management of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in 0 to 19 years old at a Private Tertiary Medical Center

Sitti Nur-en R. Madatu | Florentina U. Ty

 

Abstract:

Dengue virus and virulent Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) represent an international health issue that remains untreatable with traditional antiviral and vaccine therapy. A Cross Sectional Descriptive study was conducted to review blood transfusion (BT) practice in the management of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in MCU-FDTMF Hospital from year 2006-2008 to assess the outcome of patients with or without transfusion. There were a total of 80 patients from 0-19 years old admitted due to DHF. Diagnosis was confirmed according to WHO criteria for DHF. From a total of 80 patients, 11 were given BT comprising 14% of total population; 43 patients presented as grade 1 (54%), 28 grade 2 (35%), 4 as grade 3 (5%) and 5 patients presented as grade 4 (6%). Most common indication for blood transfusion is bleeding followed by decreased platelet count. It was shown that there were a significant number of cases who developed bleeding such as melena, hematamesis and pulmonary hemorrhage given blood transfusion compared to patients who were not given blood transfusion. The length of hospital stay is longer in the patients with blood transfusion compared to those without blood transfusion. Complications of DHF were mostly observed in patients given blood transfusion compared to those not transfused. All of the mortalities belong to the group who underwent blood transfusion. Urticarial rash and intravascular volume load are the adverse effects that were observed after blood transfusion.