A Clinico-Epidemiological Analysis of Seropositive Cases of Tropical Infections and their Co-Infection in Tertiary Care Hospital in South India Bhalla Kristel1, Rao Pooja2,*, Manipura Radhakrishna2 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 Aim of the study 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. Material & Method 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. Results 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%). Conclusion 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. Top Keywords Tropical infections, Co-infections, dengue, clinico-epidemiological. Top |