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Abstract: Objective: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the spectrum of imaging findings in patients with Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and explore the associated clinical parameters. Methods: A total of 237 patients diagnosed with DHF confirmed via ELISA were included in the study. Imaging modalities including abdominal and chest ultrasound in every patient, HRCT (n=19), and CT brain scans (n=3)in patients having symptoms related to chest or brain were performed as part of the diagnostic workup. Demographic data, platelet counts, DHF grading, and imaging findings were recorded. Descriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS v26. Results: The mean age of the patients was 34.50 ± 16.4, with a male preponderance (58.2%). Grade I DHF was observed in 69.2% of patients, followed by Grade II (23.6%) and Grade III (7.1%). Abdominal ultrasound revealed hepatomegaly (19.4%) and splenomegaly (19.6%). Thick-walled gall bladder (34.7%), pericholecystic fluid (7.1%), and gall bladder sludge (5.06%) were also noted. Ascites was present in 19% of cases. Chest ultrasound detected pleural effusion in 11.8% of patients, predominantly mild. HRCT scans showed pleural effusion (89.5%), ground glass opacities and consolidations (36.8%), alveolar shadowing (26.3%), and signs of non-cardiogenic edema (10.5%). CT brain scans revealed intracerebral bleed in 2 out of 3 patients with neurological manifestations. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the spectrum of imaging findings in DHF. Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and gall bladder abnormalities, while chest ultrasound and HRCT revealed pleural effusion and pulmonary manifestations. CT brain scans identified intracerebral bleeding in some cases. These findings highlight the importance of imaging modalities in evaluating DHF complications and guiding appropriate management. Prospective studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate these findings and further enhance our understanding of imaging features in DHF.
Akhtar et al. (Wed,) studied this question.