Study of maternal and fetal outcome in dengue fever complicating pregnancy

Abstract

Aim: To study the maternal and fetal outcome in antenatal mothers who were suffering from dengue fever. Methods: A prospective analysis of 56 pregnant women admitted in obstetric ward with dengue fever over a period of 12 months was done and results were observed and documented. Analysis was done with respect to age of patient, gestational age of pregnancy, complications at presentation, laboratory diagnosis, platelet counts and treatment offered. Outcome of pregnancy like abortion, pre-term delivery, term delivery, birth weight and condition of fetus at birth were noted. Maternal mortality and morbidity were also noted. Results: Majority of the patients were in between 26-30 years of age and was in second and third trimesters. The striking feature observed was the presence of severe thrombocytopenia in three fourth of the study population. Eight patients had platelets <10,000 cells /mm3 and all of them received massive platelet transfusions. Thirty six patients had platelet count in between10,000 to 50,000 cells/mm3, only 20 patients received 4-5 units of platelet transfusions. In addition, coexistence of other vector borne diseases was also noted. Other associated complications are: dengue hemorrhagic fever (12), pregnancy induced hypertention (12), disseminated intravascular coagulation (4), respiratory stridor (4) and malaria (4) with dengue fever. Most of them had a term vaginal delivery and some had caesarian section. Eight of them had abortion. Conclusion: Most cases required only conservative treatment. Women who went into labour required platelet transfusion. Outcome seemed to correlate with gestational age of occurrence of dengue fever.

Keywords

• dengue fever
• severe thrombocytopenia
• pregnancy