ADULT DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER AT KUALA-LUMPUR HOSPITAL - RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 102 CASES

A retrospective study involving 102 adults with dengue haemorrhagic fe ver (DHF) was conducted to investigate the demographic aspect, clinica l presenting features, laboratory investigations, complications, and m ortality associated with the disease. The clinical diagnosis of DHF wa s in accordance with WHO recommendations. Epistaxis, gingivitis, haema temesis and gastritis were among the common complications. Platelet le vels tended to decline from a higher value on admisssion (mean 67 000/ mm(3)) to lower levels on subsequent days, with the lowest (mean 61 00 0/mm(3)) being on day 6 of the lever. Hyponatraemia (46.8%) was common ly observed. Morbidity of DHF was significant (29.4%) but the case fat ality rate remained low (2.0%) in our adults, suggesting that adults a re less likely than children to suffer from shock syndrome.