ABSTRACT
Background: The objectives of this study was to analyze complete blood counts in rotaviral gastroenteritis with special emphasis on platelet indices.Methods: Children diagnosed as rotavirus gastroenteritis and healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Severity of acute gastroenteritis was classified into mild, moderate and severe grades using Vesikari score. Rotavirus was determined in fresh stool samples using rapid diagnostic rotavirus antigen test. Hemoglobin, leukocyte, neutrophil to lymphocyte percentage ratio, platelet counts, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet crit (PCT) levels were assessed for all children. It's a case control study conducted at Pediatric Speciality Hospital.Results: There were 30 cases with mean age 1.58 years. Healthy controls were 30 with mean age 2.10 years. Mean Hb was lower in cases. Mean of platelet counts was higher in cases. Mean MPV levels was lower in cases. Mean PCT value was higher in cases. Mean MPV to platelet ratio value was lower in cases. All parameters values showed no significant difference among mild, moderate and severe groups of rotaviral gastroenteritis cases. Platelet count was negatively correlated with Hb, MPVP and positively correlated with TLC and PCT. MPV was positively correlated with MPVP and PDW. PCT was negatively correlated with Hb, MPVP and positively correlated with TLC and platelet count.Conclusions: MPV can be used as negative acute phase reactant in rotavirus gastroenteritis and so is the MPV to platelet ratio. Platelet count is acute phase reactant in rotavirus gastroenteritis and so is the platelet crit value.