Hematologic Findings in the 1960 Hemorrhagic Fever Epidemic (Dengue) in Thailand

Abstract

Summary In 22 indigenous children with Thai hemorrhagic fever (20 confirmed and 2 suspect by viral isolations) the average leukocyte concentration was 5,300 WBC/cmm, with a range of 2,300 to 10,800, and an average platelet concentration of 180,000 per cmm, with a range of 2,500 to 610,000. The hematologic findings in these children were very similar to those in 2 adult Caucasians with dengue, suggesting that these two diseases are identical. Depression of megakaryocytopoiesis and granulocytopoiesis during the early phase of Thai hemorrhagic fever and dengue is marked, and the possible implications of similar pathology in non-epidemic areas are discussed.