Role of Doxycycline in Bleeding Manifestations of Dengue Fever

Abstract

Dengue (pronounced DENgee) fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses. Aim: To study effect of doxycycline in bleeding manifestations of dengue fever. Materials and Methods: Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group study was conducted among 100 seropositive dengue patients, age between 18-60 years (fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria) at LLR hospital, Kanpur for Dec 2019 – Oct 2021. These patients were randomized into two groups (50 patients in each). One arm received doxycycline and other was given placebo. Results: Patient in case group (on doxycycline) had less bleeding manifestations in comparison to control group (on placebo), only 2% having major bleed as compared to 12% controls, that was statistically significant. But no significant difference seen in terms of minor bleeding. Hemodynamic compromise was more in control group (16%) as compared to treatment group (6%). Conclusion: Doxycycline might be having some role in reducing bleeding manifestations in dengue infected patients.