The Comparative Efficacy of Standard Treatment Plus Ribavirin vs Standard Treatment Alone in Preventing Clinically Significant Hemorrhage in Patients With Dengue Fever

Dengue fever, a significant public health concern, presents varying severity from asymptomatic to life-threatening complications such as hemorrhage or shock. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Ribavirin when combined with standard treatment in mitigating severe bleeding complications in dengue patients. Conducted at multiple public sector hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the trial employs a rigorous methodology, including block randomization, double-blinding, and predefined eligibility criteria. Outcomes include changes in bleeding grades, platelet counts, acute-phase reactants, and hospital stay length. The findings aim to inform policy decisions and enhance dengue fever management protocols.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients aged 18 years and above.
• Hospitalized patients diagnosed with dengue fever, confirmed via:
• Positive Dengue NS1 antigen test
• Dengue IgM antibodies
• Dengue RNA PCR.
• Patients presenting with various severities of illness, as classified by the WHO dengue severity classification.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications.
• Patients with known bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, end-stage renal disease, or liver cirrhosis).
• Patients with HIV undergoing antiviral therapy.
• Pregnant women.
• Patients with hypersensitivity to Ribavirin.
• Patients with WHO Grade 1 bleeding (few petechiae without clinical significance).