ABSTRACT
In the recent period there is an upsurge in the incidence of fever with thrombocytopenia in the Mid Karnataka. This may be due to the several emerging and re-emerging infections which cause frequent epidemics in the region. Early diagnosis and meticulous management will prevent fatal outcome. Studies on fever with thrombocytopenia are very few in Karnataka.METHODSThis was a descriptive study conducted at J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, over a period of one year from December 2017 to November 2018. The study includes 251 cases attending outpatient- and inpatient-departments in the Department of Medicine. All patients with a platelet count of less than 150000 was included in this study and detailed clinical and laboratory evaluation was done and assessed for the aetiology and outcome.RESULTSAmong the 251 cases, dengue fever accounted for 54.5% of cases and 26.2% were other viral fever cases where the exact causative organism was not identified. Leptospirosis, malaria were also important causes of fever with thrombocytopenia. Major incidence of haemorrhagic manifestation occurred in the age group of 20 to 30 years whose platelet count was in the range of 10000 to 40000/mm3.CONCLUSIONSIn this study, more than 50% had dengue fever and in 26.2% cases the exact aetiology could not be determined. This finding highlights the fact that there may be many unidentified infections which cause fulminant thrombocytopenia and there is a need for wider screening of infection.