Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in Children with Underlying Hemotologic-Oncologic Diseases

Abstract

Abstract: The study presents 14 patients (males 12, females 2) with hematologic-oncologic diseases affected by dengue virus infection. Their ages ranged from 6 to 13 years with a mean of 8 years, 4 months. They included thalassemia disease (n = 5), G6PD deficiency (n = 2), hemophilia (n = 3) and acute leukemia (n = 4). Patients were diagnosed with dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), seven cases each. Patients with DHF were in grade 2, except 3 cases of hemophilia and acute leukemia in off-treatment stage in grades 3 and 4. The bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia were severe. Moreover, the levels of hematocrit were rather low due to acute hemolysis, hemomhage and bone marrow failure. Thirteen out of 14 patients (93%) required blood component therapy including packed red cells, platelet concentrate and factor concentrate. Consequently, although the dengue infection was not serious, the underlying hematologic-oncologic diseases aggravated the different clinical manifestations requiring blood component therapy. Close observation and monitoring were essential for the favorable outcomes.