A Cross-Sectional Study on Prevalence and Seasonal Trends of Malaria and Dengue and Their Co-infection in Patients with Acute Febrile Illness Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Jhalawar, Rajasthan

Abstract

Unknown etiologies behind acute febrile illnesses make treatment choices tough for clinicians resulting high mortality rates amongst the vulnerable populations. Vector borne diseases viz. malaria and dengue are the major stake holders responsible for AFI. Determination of their individual as well as concurrent prevalence is important for disease control. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and seasonality of malaria and dengue and their co infection in acute undifferentiated febrile patients. The study was performed on samples of patients presenting with fever of less than 15 days duration at the department of microbiology, Jhalawar Medical College, Rajasthan during January–December 2016. The samples were tested for malaria (Peripheral Blood film examination using Giemsa staining and Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC) examination) and dengue (MAC ELISA). The study included 1059 patients (age 1–85 years) with acute febrile illness, and prescribe for malaria investigations. 58 (5.48%) patients were diagnosed positive for malaria. Of these, 27.58% (16/58) were positive for P. vivax, 70.68% (41/58) had P falciparum infection while one patient was having mixed infection with P falciparum and P vivax. Of 493 patients tested for Dengue IgM antibodies, 60.24% (299) were positive and two patients were equivocal. It was concluded that dengue and malaria are common etiological agents responsible for acute febrile illness in patients particularly in the monsoon and post monsoon season in our region. With the use of appropriate diagnostic methods, the exact disease burden can be estimated and timely management of the patients can be ensured.

Keywords: Malaria, dengue, co-infection

Cite this Article

Yogendra Kumar Tiwari, Dileep Kumar Sharma, Vasudev Patidar. A Cross-Sectional Study on Prevalence and Seasonal Trends of Malaria and Dengue and Their Co-infection in Patients with Acute Febrile Illness Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Jhalawar, Rajasthan. Research & Reviews: Journal of Microbiology and Virology. 2017; 7(1): 9–14p.