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Introduction : Acute Undifferentiated Fever (AUF) has a myriad of etiologies most common of which are Vector Borne Diseases in a country like India. The etiology and diagnosis of AUF is driven by the regional disease burden, seasonality of infectious diseases, spectrum and severity of disease, availability of diagnostics and access to health care facilities. Methods : A twelve-month prospective study was conducted at our centre to determine the commonly occurring causes of AUF. Monthly incidence of each of the common etiologies was noted and a graph was plotted to understand the seasonal distribution of each disease. Other parameters including age, gender, occupation and regional distribution were also studied. Results : The mean age (±SD) of the population in the present study was 33.16 (±15.88) years. Our study established that Scrub Typhus, Dengue fever and malaria were the most common reasons for AUF. The maximum incidence of AUF was between the months of June to October, peaking in the month of August. Urban population, younger age and males were more affected by AUF. Haryana followed by Punjab and Chandigarh had the highest regional burden of disease. Conclusion : It is imperative that we understand the seasonal and regional trends of AUF so that we can plan the resource allocation. Identifying the population at risk and timely intervention at Community level may help to reduce disease transmission.
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@#Seasonal influenza is an acute viral infection that causes annual epidemics. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the global disease burden of seasonal influenza is approximately one billion cases annually resulting in up to 500 000 deaths. Epidemics are well defined as seasonal in northern and southern temperate climates with annual epidemics occurring in late winter or early spring. In contrast, seasonal patterns in tropical and subtropical regions are less clear and tend to show more consistent levels of transmission year-round.@*@#The Western Pacific Region (WPR) of WHO comprises 37 diverse countries and areas with temperate and tropical climates inhabited by approximately 1.8 billion people in 2016. Therefore, influenza is consistently circulating in variable locations in the Region. Collection and analysis of influenza surveillance data in WPR is particularly important due to evidence that novel influenza may emerge from persistent influenza reservoirs in the tropics and then spread to temperate regions. A more comprehensive understanding of virological characteristics of influenza in this Region will contribute to improved predictions of emerging global influenza trends. For example, there is evidence that between 2002 and 2007 influenza viruses originating in several tropical WPR nations seeded seasonal A(H3N2) epidemics in temperate zones.@*@#The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) is a WHO network that monitors global impact of influenza and evaluates potential pandemic risk of emerging strains. GISRS also provides recommendations regarding viral strains in seasonal influenza vaccines, laboratory diagnostics and antiviral susceptibility. GISRS comprises 143 National Influenza Centres (NICs), six WHO collaborating centres (CCs), four Essential Regulatory Laboratories and other ad hoc laboratories. The WHO WPR has 21 NICs, three WHO CCs and two Essential Regulatory Laboratories. The NICs process thousands of specimens yearly of which a subset is sent to WHO CCs. FluNet is a global platform that allows NICs and other GISRS-affiliated laboratories to upload virological information regarding number of specimens tested and resulting type, subtype and lineage. It has been used in WPR since 1996. FluID, currently in a pilot phase, is a platform for sharing country epidemiological data that includes influenza-like illness (ILI) consultations by age group, total number of outpatients and total number of surveillance sites.@*@#Embedding influenza surveillance strategies within the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED) framework has supported significant advances in WPR influenza capacity. Advances include improved surveillance systems, increased laboratory capacity and greater rates of reporting to FluNet. An evaluation of the Region between 2006 and 2010 indicated increased sample submission and reporting through regional systems, particularly in response to the 2009 A(H1N1)pandemic. In light of continued efforts to enhance influenza surveillance in the Region, this review provides an updated description of regional influenza surveillance systems focused on the epidemiological and virological characteristics of seasonal influenza. This review updates the results from the previous 2012 review, considers how recommendations regarding surveillance strategy improvements have been implemented in the Region and discusses suggested future steps.
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Background: Malaria is a major health problem and infects many individuals despite of various efforts to control it. The present study was aimed to observe characteristics of malaria, seasonal variation and prevalence of malaria in our region. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in our institute from period of January 2012 to December 2012. All the fever cases undergone investigations for malarial parasites were included in present study for defined time period. All the laboratory data of the patients having fever were retrieved from the Pathology Laboratory of our institute. Results: out of total 32674 reports studied 4907(15.01%) were positive for malaria with overall Slide positivity rate and slide falciparum rate were 15.01% and 38.29% respectively. Incidence of malaria occurs throughout year with increased incidence of P. falciparum in monsoon. Conclusion: In the present study incidence of malaria was higher in monsoon in comparison to other seasons. But throughout the year no declining trends in incidence of malaria was observed. P. vivax malaria was more commonly observed in our study but incidence of P. falciparum increased in monsoon.
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Objectives: Acute appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix for which timely surgery is mandatory to prevent morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in incidences, age, sex and seasonal variations and to review the histological diagnoses of all the appendicectomy samples. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent appendicectomy at the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital, New Delhi during the period Jan 2007 to Oct 2010.All the relevant data were retrieved from the accompanying laboratory request forms or patients files records where available. All histology slides were also retrieved and reviewed. To overcome the lack of standardization which is inherent in a retrospective analyses of this type, on review, all the cases were grouped into histopathologic categories Results: Of the 262 cases reviewed, acute suppurative appendicitis accounted for the maximum cases(80,30.53%) and a negative appendicectomy rate of 7% was observed. Male predominance was seen with a M:F ratio of 1.4:1.A peak incidence of 35.1% was observed in the 21-30years age group. A seasonal trend of majority cases being confined to the months of June -August coinciding with the rainy season was noted. Conclusion: The vermiform appendix is a vestigial organ with no specific function. It comes into the limelight when a diagnosis of acute appendicitis is made by the surgeon based upon clinical features and physical examination. Histological examination of the appendix is therefore necessary to assess the surgeon's rate of negative appendicectomy as well as avoid missing a rare diagnosis or a malignancy.
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Background and Aim: The incidence of peptic ulcer disease has steadily declined throughout the world. The influence of seasonal changes on the incidence of peptic ulcer disease is not well established. The aim of the study was to identify the changing trends in the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease from a tertiary referral center in south India and to study the seasonal variation in the occurrence of peptic ulcer. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the endoscopic records between the years 1989 to 2004. Results: There was a significant decrease in the endoscopic diagnosis of duodenal and gastric ulcers (DU and GU) over the years. Both duodenal and gastric ulcers were more common in men than women. Over the years, there was a steady increase in the proportion of women affected with both DU and GU. A steady increase in the mean age of endoscopic diagnosis of GU and DU was seen over the years. The adjusted seasonal index revealed an increase in the endoscopic diagnosis of GU and DU in the months October – March. Conclusion: The endoscopic diagnosis of DU and GU has shown a decreasing trend over the past 16 years. The adjusted seasonal index has shown an increasing trend between the months of October- March.