Platelet Recovery Time Among Hospitalized Pediatric Dengue Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study

Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue is a common cause of pediatric hospitalization in Bangladesh, and thrombocytopenia is a frequently monitored hematological abnormality. Local evidence on platelet recovery time among thrombocytopenic hospitalized children remains limited. Aim: To assess platelet recovery time among hospitalized pediatric dengue patients. Methods & Materials: This retrospective observational study was conducted the Department of Pediatrics, Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, over a three-month period from January to March 2026. Pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed dengue (positive NS1 antigen, dengue IgM, or dengue IgG) were included. Demographic, clinical, hematological, and biochemical data were extracted from hospital records. The primary outcome was incident platelet recovery, defined as the first follow-up complete blood count showing a platelet count ≥100,000/cmm among patients with baseline platelet count <100,000/cmm. Descriptive statistics summarized recovery patterns. Results: Among 56 hospitalized pediatric dengue patients, the mean age was 85.5 ± 45.9 months, and 42 (75.0%) were male. Fever occurred in all patients, while nausea/vomiting (71.4%), headache (53.6%), and abdominal pain (46.4%) were common. At baseline, 46 patients (82.1%) had platelet counts <100,000/cmm, including 28 (50.0%) with counts <50,000/cmm. The mean baseline platelet count was 58,696 ± 39,544/cmm, with a median of 48,000/cmm (IQR: 24,675-86,250). Among the 46 eligible patients, 34 (73.9%) achieved platelet recovery, whereas 12 (26.1%) did not recover during follow-up. Median recovery time was 2.0 days (IQR: 2.0-3.0). Cumulative recovery reached 43.5% by Day 2, 67.4% by Day 3, and 73.9% by Day 5. Recovery occurred in 92.9% of patients with baseline platelet counts <50,000/cmm versus 44.4% with 50,000-99,999/cmm. Conclusion: Platelet recovery occurred early in most thrombocytopenic hospitalized pediatric dengue patients. Serial platelet monitoring is useful but should be interpreted alongside clinical status, warning signs, hematocrit changes, and illness timing.