Clinical Spectrum of Acute Undifferentiated Fever - An Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Region specific awareness about majoraetiologies of acute undifferentiated fever (AUF) is importantfor effective management to reduce morbidity and mortality.Hence, we did a study to know about the aetiology and diseasespecific clinical profile of acute undifferentiated fever cases ina tertiary care centre in South India.Material and Methods: A retrospective, observational studywas conducted in a tertiary care centre (GIMSR, South India)during June 2018–June 2019. Patients aged 16 years whohad a febrile illness for < 21 days, with no localizing signs ofinfection following initial clinical evaluation were includedin the study. Peripheral smear for malarial parasite, Widaltest, Dengue rapid NS1 antigen and IgM Combo test, DengueIgM capture ELISA (MAC-ELISA), Leptospira IgM ELISA,Scrub typhus IgM ELISA, Chikungunya IgM ELISA andblood culture were routinely performed at the hospital.Results: A total of 248 AUF cases were studied Dengue(42), Malaria(46), Scrub typhus(27), Scrub typhus withDengue(7), Chikungunya(11), Enteric fever(37), UTI(26),Leptospirosis(5), Hepatitis A(5), Hepatitis E(5) and Uncleardiagnosis(37) were noted.Conclusion: Malaria, Dengue, Enteric fever and Scrub typhuswere the most important major causes of AUF in our study.However, a greater number of undiagnosed cases (37) in ourstudy shows that further research is required in identifying theaetiology of undifferentiated fever.