The Role of Platelet Count and Hematocrit as Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in Pediatric Patients at RA Kartini General Hospital, Jepara

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background: Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) remains a major pediatric health problem in Indonesia, one of the countries with the highest disease burden globally. Platelet count and hematocrit are routinely used laboratory parameters believed to reflect disease severity through mechanisms of platelet destruction and plasma leakage, respectively, yet their individual diagnostic value continues to be debated across the literature. Objective: To analyze the role of platelet count and hematocrit as biomarkers in diagnosing the severity of DHF among pediatric patients at RA Kartini General Hospital, Jepara, during 2024. Methods: This analytical observational study used a cross-sectional design with a total sampling technique, involving 100 pediatric patients diagnosed with DHF. Secondary data were obtained from electronic medical records, and the correlation between platelet count, hematocrit level, and DHF severity grade was analyzed using Spearman's Rho test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Most patients presented with Grade I DHF (60%), and thrombocytopenia was found in 82% of patients. Platelet count showed a statistically significant association with DHF severity (p = 0.035), whereas hematocrit level showed no significant association (p = 0.898). Conclusion: Platelet count is a more sensitive biomarker than hematocrit for assessing DHF severity in pediatric patients, supporting its continued clinical use, particularly in resource-limited settings, while hematocrit likely requires serial rather than single-timepoint measurement to demonstrate its prognostic value.