A comparison of changes in venous lactate and haematocrit during fluid resuscitation of dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Background: Judicious fluid resuscitation and stringent monitoring of clinical parameters improve the outcome of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). The usefulness of serum lactate to monitor adequate fluid therapy has not been adequately explored.

Methods: An observational study was conducted in Sri Lanka, recruiting 162 DHF patients within 12 h of diagnosis of the critical phase.