Poornima S Jawali

Abstract

Re-emergence of infectious diseases are commonly seen with viral infections among which those caused by Influenza viruses are by nature unstable and unpredictable because of the unique capability of changing their antigenic characteristics by mutation. This study aims to unravel the haematological consequences of Influenza A H1N1 infections and also to compare it with Influenza A H1N1 negative infections. Materials and Methods: Applying the relevant inclusion and exclusion criterion yielded a total hundred patients consisting of sixty-five Influenza A H1N1 positive and thirty-five Influenza A H1N1 negative patients. The CBC profile of all these subjects were obtained from an Automated hematology analyzer which yielded various haematological parameters. Results: The mean hemoglobin was 12.145 gm/dl in H1N1 positive cases and 12.6 gm/dl in H1N1 negative cases. The mean hematocrit value was 36.28% in H1N1 positive cases and 40.65% in H1N1 negative cases. 26 H1N1 positive cases had leucopenia, whereas 4 H1N1 negative cases had leucopenia and 8 H1N1 positive cases had leucocytosis. Lymphopenia was observed in 60% of H1N1 positive cases and in 22.9% H1N1 negative cases. Thrombocytopenia was a feature in 8 H1N1 positive cases and 2 H1N1 negative cases. Conclusions: Several haematological variations are observed in both H1N1 positive cases and H1N1 negative influenza cases, but to different extents. Keywords: H1N1, Influenza, Haematological.

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Abstract

Introduction : Over the years, nature has witnessed the occurrence of pandemics caused by influenza viruses of different strains due to their unique capability of antigenic variations and aggressive behavior. This study aims to understand and document the general characteristics and biochemical findings of Influenza A H1N1 infection. Materials and Methods: This study revolved around hundred patients presenting with influenza like illness. The general, clinical and relevant laboratory investigation findings of Influenza A H1N1 positive patients were studied and documented Results : Out of hundred patients with influenza like illness, sixty-five positive patients were studied excluding the thirty-five negative patients. The age range of the patients was wide from 1 month to 75 years, with seven cases having had comorbid conditions and six cases with history of exposure. Fever was the most common symptom in all cases, followed by cough, sore throat, nasal catarrh, difficulty in breathing and vomiting. Fourteen patients took liver function tests among whom eight showed elevation of enzymes and two out of twenty-one tested had hypokalemia. Conclusion: The unpredictable nature, varied clinical and laboratory expressions of the disease make it essential to study and understand the various characteristics of the Influenza A H1N1 infection. Keywords: Biochemical, Clinical features, Influenza A H1N1, Laboratory, Liver function test.

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