With the rising number of dengue cases in Delhi, doctors and healthcare professionals are worried about patients developing liver dysfunction and capillary leakage. Several experts have claimed that on average, 6 out of 10 patients admitted to hospitals with the infection are likely to develop liver complications caused by dysregulated immune response or physical movement after a gap of two years due to COVID.

Dr. Monalisa Sahu, Consultant of Infectious Diseases at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, explained that in dengue virus infection, a high level of viremia is associated with the failure or sepsis of vital organs including the liver and brain, among others. Hepatic symptoms caused by either dysregulated immunologic damage in response to the infection or direct viral toxicity involve a wide spectrum of conditions, such as asymptomatic elevation of liver enzymes to the occurrence of severe manifestation in the form of acute liver failure (ALF). Hence, she advised that early diagnosis and timely appropriate management of these cases with proper ICU care can prevent patients from severe complications.

Dr. Ravi Shankarji Kesari, MD in Internal Medicine at Apollo Spectra Hospital, further explained that the initial signs of liver damage are abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, a yellowish pigment in the eyes or urine, and abdominal tenderness. He added that the first line of treatment for high-risk patients, especially those suffering from diabetes and hypertension, is to counsel them to stop taking medications like paracetamol, which is known to affect liver function.