Prevalencia del dengue y exámenes complementarios en pacientes atendidos en el laboratorio Medic-lab.

Dengue is a public health problem in tropical areas, characterized by high fever, systemic symptoms, and the potential to progress to severe forms. This study analyzed the prevalence of dengue and related laboratory tests in 320 patients seen at the MEDIC-LAB clinical laboratory in Manta, Ecuador, through an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study conducted from 2022 to 2024. The results showed an overall prevalence of 27.5%, with sustained annual rates of 28%, 27.1%, and 27.3%, respectively. The positivity rate for NS1 and IgM was 27.5%, while that for IgG was 26%, with females predominating, accounting for 16% of positive cases. The most affected hematological parameters were platelets (39.7%), white blood cells (21.5%), and elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (28.4%), while the liver enzymes TGP and GGT were elevated in 58% of cases, with a higher frequency in women, although this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The proportion test confirmed that the observed prevalence significantly exceeds the expected 20% (Z=3.35; p<0.05). It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of dengue in the studied population, with hematological involvement characterized by thrombocytopenia and liver dysfunction, which highlights the importance of early diagnosis through laboratory tests for appropriate clinical care and epidemiological surveillance.