Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development
  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 10

A Clinico-Epidemiological Analysis of Seropositive Cases of Tropical Infections and their Co-Infection in Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

1Undergraduate, Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal

2Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal

*Corresponding Author: Dr. Pooja Rao Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India-575001 e-mail: pooja.keerthiraj@manipal.edu Telephone: 7676523134

Online published on 23 December, 2019.

Abstract

Tropical infections with similar presentations, makes diagnosis difficult. To determine the seroprevalence and clinic-epidemiological profile of malaria, dengue, typhoid, rickettsia and leptospirosis in clinically suspected patients and their co-infection to ease in the diagnosis and treatment.

The laboratory information system and medical records was accessed to find the rates of seropositivity and clinical epidemiological records for the above diseases during the study period. The data was entered and analyzed using statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 11.5 and any significant associations were analyzed by using the Chi-square test.

Dengue had the largest number of patients that tested positive (30%), and malaria had the least number (7%). A significant association (p < 0.05) was found for dengue for sex, place and residence and malaria for the place and residence and leptospirosis for age and sex. The most common symptoms these patients presented with were fever(98.7%), vomiting(33.6%), myalgia(49.5%) and headache(47.6%). Coinfections found in 16 patients (2.6%).

Among the 5 infections, dengue had the highest prevalence, and co-infections were seen mostly with dengue and other infections. Given the burden of these diseases, research for better and more accurate diagnostic modalities is required.

Keywords

Tropical infections, Co-infections, dengue, clinico-epidemiological