Clinical Research Directory

Abdominal Sonographic Findings and Their Association With Thrombocytopenia in Dengue Fever: A Cross-Sectional Study From an Endemic Region

Sponsor: National Center for Gastroentestinal and Liver Disease

Summary

Dengue fever is a common mosquito-borne viral infection in many tropical regions, including Sudan. Some patients develop severe forms of the disease, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can lead to plasma leakage, bleeding, organ involvement, and life-threatening complications. Early identification of patients at risk of severe disease is essential for timely management and improved outcomes. This study aims to describe the abdominal ultrasound findings in patients diagnosed with dengue fever and to examine how these findings relate to clinical features and blood test results, particularly low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Ultrasound is a non-invasive and widely available imaging method that may help detect complications early and guide clinical decision-making. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, medical records and archived abdominal ultrasound images of 150 patients with laboratory-confirmed dengue infection were reviewed. The study evaluated the frequency of findings such as gallbladder wall thickening, fluid accumulation in the abdomen and chest, liver and spleen enlargement, and rare complications like internal bleeding. These imaging findings were then compared with patient demographics and laboratory results to determine their clinical significance. By identifying the most common ultrasound features and their association with disease severity, this study seeks to support the use of abdominal ultrasound as a practical tool for risk assessment and monitoring in dengue-endemic settings. The results may help clinicians recognize severe dengue earlier and improve patient management in resource-limited environments.

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