Background: Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viraldisease with four serotypes. An estimated 50-100 million cases of denguefever (DF) and about 250,000-500,000 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever(DHF) occur every year.In Southeast Asia, the average number of casesof DHF per year has increased from 10,000 in the 1950s to over 200,000in the 1990s. Thus, dengue virus remains a major cause of morbidity andmortality in tropical areas. Epidemic DF was common in Asia and Pacificregion throughout the twentieth century.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: To analyse Mean Platelet Volume and Platelet distribution width as the Predictors of thrombocytopenia and the speed of illness recovery among admitted cases with DF and DHF.To study the early clinical presentation for diagnosis of dengue virus infection. To study the Complications and Prognosis of the illnesses Materials and Methods: The Prospective observational study was done on 100 dengue positive cases during the outbreak of dengue infection over a period of 12 months, from Nov 2017 to October 2018. The platelet parameter like Platelet count, Mean platelet volume, Platelet distribution width were noted using BC 3000 plus Mindray Automated Haematology Analyzer and was compared with severity of disease (DF/DHF/DSS). Results: Relationship between platelet parameters like platelet count, MPV and PDW were made with severity of the disease (DF/DHF/DSS). No Significant difference was observed between severity of the thrombocytopenia and severity of the disease, (P value 0.080686)Dengue positive cases were associated with
low MPV were 13.86% and high PDW values were 43.56%.Even though the increase in the MPV and increase in PDW indicates activation and heralds recovery of platelets, but the correlation between platelet counts and platelet indices like MPV and PDW did not show any significance in our study (p values are 0.710, 0.138 and 0.131 respectively. Conclusion: The study focusesthe importance of platelet parameters in dengue infection. No significant difference was observed between severity of the thrombocytopenia and severity of the disease (P value 0.080686). Platelet count is thus a predictive parameter of DF/DHF/DSS. Low MPV (13fl) shows sensitivity for dengue fever thus reflecting a predictive marker for diagnosing dengue fever inendemic area.

Keywords: Dengue; Platelets; Mean Platelet Volume; Platelet Distribution width.