Original article / research
Etiological Spectrum of Acute Febrile Illness in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Assam, India: A Cross-Sectional Study
DC05-DC11
Correspondence
Dr. Partha Pratim Das,
Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh-786002, Assam, India.
E-mail: drppd83@gmail.com
Introduction: Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) encompasses a spectrum of conditions marked by fever, often caused by various infectious agents. The aetiological diversity poses challenges in diagnosis and treatment, particularly in regions with limited diagnostic resources.
Aim: To evaluate the spectrum of pathogens causing AFI with or without rash in patients.
Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to December 2024 on 1,544 patients who had attended Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, North Lakhimpur, Assam, India. Patients with fever (≥ 37.5°C) with or without rash were enrolled. Serological investigations for Measles, Rubella, Dengue, Varicella-zoster, Chikungunya viruses, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Orientia tsutsugamushi, Leptospira, and Hepatitis viruses were performed using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Rapid Detection Testing (RDT) kits. Data analysis was performed using both descriptive and inferential methods. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Fever was prevalent in all 1,544 (100%) cases, followed by 856 (55.44%) cases of headache, 636 (41.19%) with cough, 476 (30.83%) with vomiting, 347 (22.47%) with abdominal pain, 59 (3.82%) cases with dysentery, 52 (3.37%) with diarrhoea, 46 (2.98%) cases with unconsciousness, and 21 (1.36%) cases presented with rash. Fever was observed in combination with headache in 856 (55.44%), with cough in 636 (41.19%), with bodyache in 481 (31.15%), and with vomiting in 476 (30.83%) cases. The study identified seasonal variations in infection rates, with peaks during the monsoon months. The majority of positive cases were attributed to Scrub Typhus 133/817 (16.28%), followed by Leptospirosis 129/473 (27.27%), Dengue 84/1273 (6.59%), and JE 20/87 (22.99%), while some had co-infection.
Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of integrated clinical and laboratory approaches in diagnosing AFI. Scrub typhus, leptospirosis, and dengue were identified as major causes, emphasising the need for enhanced surveillance and diagnostic capabilities.