Introduction: Dengue is one of the commonest infections in Malaysia and it is a notifi able disease. Even
though the diagnosis of classical dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever can be recognized clinically, the diagnosis remains a challenge in areas where it could not be differentiated with other febrile illnesses. The aim of this study was to focus on the specifi c and consistent morphological features observed in blood fi lms of dengue infection. Materials and Methods: In all 400 cases of dengue infection serologically diagnosed in the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) during May to October 2007, only a total of 27 cases had blood fi lms examined, and thus were included in this study. These blood fi lms were re-examined by two pathologists from HTAA. The full blood count parameters were also retrieved and studied. Results: We consistently found typical reactive lymphocytes [n= 23 (85%)] and thrombocytopenia [n=21, (77.8%)] in the cases. However, leucopenia was present only in 9 cases (33%). Conclusion: The presence of typical reactive lymphocyte is a consistent fi nding in dengue fever and thus could have a signifi cant role in supporting the diagnosis of dengue infection.
Introduction: Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder and is a significant public health alarm in Malaysia with many not knowing they are carriers of this haemoglobin disorders. Materials and methods: This study conducted a one off collection of blood samples from 72 Malays students of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in Kuantan. Blood samples were subjected to conventional haemoglobin analyses that include full blood count and picture, HPLC, Haemoglobin electrophoresis and H-inclusion test. All samples were also genotyped for alpha thalassaemia–1 of Southeast Asia (a-Thal1SEA). Result: There were 17(23.6%) students who were diagnosed as thalassaemia carriers. Out of this, four (5.5 %) and six (8.3 %) students were presumptive β-thalassaemia trait and Haemoglobin-E trait as determined by the HPLC assay respectively. Nine (12.5%) students were genotyped a-Thal1SEA among whom two were also β-thalassaemia carriers. All thalassaemia cases had MCH of < 27pg. Nonetheless, two out of six Haemoglobin-E trait and three out of nine a-Thal1SEA carrier had MCV value of >80fL. Two out of four (50%) presumptive β -thalassaemia trait and one out of six (17%) students of presumptive Haemoglobin-E trait had family history of thalassaemia respectively. Conclusion: The high occurrence of the three common types of thalassaemia carrier (β, Hb-E and a-Thal1SEA thalassaemia) in our small group of subjects could be due to better participation of students who had family history of thalassaemia. The study reaffirmed the importance of molecular study for detection of alpha-thalassaemia and the use of MCH value of