Dept. of Microbiology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore
Online published on 31 January, 2015.
Dengue fever is one of the most important arboviral diseases in man with outbreaks in South East Asia including India. Detection of NS1 antigen, IgM and IgG specific antibodies have been the most important method of diagnosing dengue fever. Dengue viral infection leads to reduction in platelet count. Here we have evaluated the serological markers like NS1 antigen, IgM and IgG antibodies in relation to platelet counts in dengue infection.
Serum samples from clinically suspected dengue fever cases were tested for Dengue NS1 antigen, IgM & IgG antibodies by immunochromatography based test. Platelet counts were done for the dengue suspected cases and the results were correlated.
Of the 1321 samples tested, 554 were found to be positive for one or more of the immunological markers. Of the 554, 227 were positive for NS1, 12 for IgM and 77 for IgG only; 69 were positive for NS1and IgM, 47 for IgM and IgG, 43 for NS1, IgM and IgG, 10 for NS1 and IgG. Thrombocytopenia was mostly associated with NS1 antigen positive cases i.e., in 63.53%.
NS1 is one of the most important parameters in diagnosis of dengue infection. Thrombocytopenia correlates well with NS1 positive and NS1+IgM positive cases.
Dengue Fever, NS1 Antigen
