Acute febrile illness and treatment seeking behavior among residents of a coastal area in South India

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-13
Author(s):  
Muthukumar T. ◽  
Ramesh Chand Chauhan ◽  
Anil J. Purty ◽  
Zile Singh
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Area ◽  
South India ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness ◽  
Seeking Behavior

scholarly journals Determinants of treatment-seeking behavior during self-reported febrile illness episodes using the socio-ecological model in Kilombero District, Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline M. Mburu ◽  
Salome A. Bukachi ◽  
Khamati Shilabukha ◽  
Kathrin H. Tokpa ◽  
Mangi Ezekiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Differential Diagnostics ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Background Febrile diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa cause acute and chronic illness. Co-infections are common and these diseases have a complex etiology that includes zoonoses. For the implementation of appropriate treatment and control strategies, determinants of lay treatment-seeking behavior by the affected communities need to be understood. The objective of this study was to explore, using the socio-ecological model, the determinants of treatment-seeking actions among self-identified febrile illness cases in the Kilombero District of Tanzania. Methods Thirty-nine in-depth interviews were conducted with 28 men and 11 women in three villages in Kilombero district. These villages were purposively selected due to malaria endemicity in the area, animal husbandry practices, and proximity to livestock-wildlife interaction, all risk factors for contracting febrile zoonotic infections. Thematic analysis was conducted on the interviews to identify the key determinants of treatment-seeking actions. Results Study participants attributed febrile illnesses to malaria, typhoid and urinary tract infections. Treatment-seeking behavior was an iterative process, influenced by individual, socio-cultural, ecological and policy factors. Age, expendable income, previous history with a febrile illness, perceptions on disease severity, seasonal livelihood activities and access to timely healthcare were some of the determinants. Self-treatment with pharmaceutical drugs and herbs was usually the initial course of action. Formal healthcare was sought only when self-treatment failed and traditional healers were consulted after the perceived failure of conventional treatment. Delays in seeking appropriate health care and the consultation of medically unqualified individuals was very common. Conclusion The results imply that treatment-seeking behavior is shaped by multiple factors across all levels of the socio-ecological model. Public policy efforts need to focus on facilitating prompt health care seeking through community education on the complicated etiology of febrile illnesses. Improved access to timely treatment and better differential diagnostics by health professionals are essential to ensure correct and appropriate treatment and to reduce reliance of patients on unqualified persons.

Morbidity profile of patients seeking Naturopathy and Yoga treatment in South India: A descriptive study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naresh Kumar Panneerselvam ◽  
Dhilip Ravindran ◽  
Arunthathi Kathiresan
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
South India ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Duration Of Treatment ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
And Gender

AbstractBackgroundYoga and Naturopathy (Y&N) is one of the approved Complementary and Traditional systems of Medicine practiced in India. Unlike other systems, it is a drugless system aimed to optimize and facilitate the inherent ability of the human body to heal itself. There is lack of literature on the type of patients seeking Yoga and Naturopathy treatments in India. This study was designed with an objective to assess the morbidity profile of the in-patients treated in a Naturopathy and Yoga hospital.MethodsDescriptive study design based on clinical case records. Six hundred and four cases treated as in-patients between April 2017 and July 2018 was analyzed.ResultsThe average age of the patients was 47.4 (SD ± 16.1) years, with 56% were females and 44% males. About 50 different types of morbidity ranging from general rejuvenation to chronic diseases had been reported. Highest reported diseases were chronic in nature, with higher reporting for multiple system morbidity, followed by Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Arthritis, and Back pain. Variations were observed in the morbidities based on age and gender of the patients. The median duration of treatment was 8 days.ConclusionsPatients seek Yoga & Naturopathy care mainly for chronic conditions, further observations on treatment outcomes, quality of life, and treatment seeking behavior can be explored for the efficacy and feasibility of Yoga & Naturopathy care in managing chronic diseases.

scholarly journals Diagnostic tools used in the evaluation of acute febrile illness in South India: a scoping review

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Divyalakshmi Bhaskaran ◽  
Sarabjit Singh Chadha ◽  
Sanjay Sarin ◽  
Rajashree Sen ◽  
Sonia Arafah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
South India ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness

Abstract Background Acute febrile illness (AFI) is characterized by malaise, myalgia and a raised temperature that is a nonspecific manifestation of infectious diseases in the tropics. The lack of appropriate diagnostics for the evaluation of AFI leads to increased morbidity and mortality in resource-limited settings, specifically low-income countries like India. The review aimed to identify the number, type and quality of diagnostics used for AFI evaluation during passive case detection at health care centres in South India. Methods A scoping review of peer-reviewed English language original research articles published between 1946-July 2018 from four databases was undertaken to assess the type and number of diagnostics used in AFI evaluation in South India. Results were stratified according to types of pathogen-specific tests used in AFI management. Results The review included a total of 40 studies, all conducted in tertiary care centres (80% in private settings). The studies demonstrated the use of 5–22 tests per patient for the evaluation of AFI. Among 25 studies evaluating possible causes of AFI, 96% tested for malaria followed by 80% for dengue, 72% for scrub typhus, 68% for typhoid and 60% for leptospirosis identifying these as commonly suspected causes of AFI. 54% studies diagnosed malaria with smear microscopy while others diagnosed dengue, scrub typhus, typhoid and leptospirosis using antibody or antigen detection assays. 39% studies used the Weil-Felix test (WFT) for scrub typhus diagnosis and 82% studies used the Widal test for diagnosing typhoid. Conclusions The review demonstrated the use of five or more pathogen-specific tests in evaluating AFI as well as described the widespread use of suboptimal tests like the WFT and Widal in fever evaluation. It identified the need for the development of better-quality tests for aetiological diagnosis and improved standardised testing guidelines for AFI.

Treatment-Seeking Behavior and Compliance of Diabetic Patients in a Rural Area of South India

2006 ◽  
Vol 958 (1) ◽  
pp. 420-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. SRINIVAS ◽  
E. SURESH ◽  
M. JAGADEESAN ◽  
E. AMALRAJ ◽  
MANJULA DATTA
Keyword(s):  
Rural Area ◽  
South India ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Seeking Behavior

scholarly journals Perception about Etiology of Epilepsy and Help-Seeking Behavior in Patients with Epilepsy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gautam Das ◽  
Samar Biswas ◽  
Souvik Dubey ◽  
Durjoy Lahiri ◽  
Biman Kanti Ray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Epileptic Seizures ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Epileptic Patients ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Tertiary Care Centers ◽  
Patients With Epilepsy

Abstract Objectives Patients with epilepsy and their family have diverse beliefs about the cause of their illness that generally determine their treatment-seeking behavior. In this study, our aim was to find out different beliefs about epilepsy that lead to different help-seeking patterns, which act as barrier to the intended modern medical management of epilepsy. Materials and Methods One hundred and fifty consecutive consenting patients accompanied by a reliable informant/family member fulfilling the International Classification of Epileptic Seizures (ICES), simplified version, were included. Demographic and clinical data of all the eligible subjects was collected. Perceived cause of illness and help-seeking pattern were explored from patient/informant by administering proper instruments. Results Respondents identified varied causes of epilepsy and explored multiple help-seeking options before reaching tertiary care centers. We observed that, generally, epileptic patients/relatives who had belief in causes like supernatural causes sought help from nonprofessional personnel and those attributed their symptom to bodily pathology had professional help-seeking. Conclusions The belief in supernatural causes not being conformed to the biomedical models of the epileptic disorders increases the treatment gap.

scholarly journals Prediction of disease severity in young children presenting with acute febrile illness in resource-limited settings: a protocol for a prospective observational study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e045826
Author(s):  
Arjun Chandna ◽  
Endashaw M Aderie ◽  
Riris Ahmad ◽  
Eggi Arguni ◽  
Elizabeth A Ashley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness ◽  
Clinical Prediction ◽  
Open Access Journals

IntroductionIn rural and difficult-to-access settings, early and accurate recognition of febrile children at risk of progressing to serious illness could contribute to improved patient outcomes and better resource allocation. This study aims to develop a prognostic clinical prediction tool to assist community healthcare providers identify febrile children who might benefit from referral or admission for facility-based medical care.Methods and analysisThis prospective observational study will recruit at least 4900 paediatric inpatients and outpatients under the age of 5 years presenting with an acute febrile illness to seven hospitals in six countries across Asia. A venous blood sample and nasopharyngeal swab is collected from each participant and detailed clinical data recorded at presentation, and each day for the first 48 hours of admission for inpatients. Multianalyte assays are performed at reference laboratories to measure a panel of host biomarkers, as well as targeted aetiological investigations for common bacterial and viral pathogens. Clinical outcome is ascertained on day 2 and day 28.Presenting syndromes, clinical outcomes and aetiology of acute febrile illness will be described and compared across sites. Following the latest guidance in prediction model building, a prognostic clinical prediction model, combining simple clinical features and measurements of host biomarkers, will be derived and geographically externally validated. The performance of the model will be evaluated in specific presenting clinical syndromes and fever aetiologies.Ethics and disseminationThe study has received approval from all relevant international, national and institutional ethics committees. Written informed consent is provided by the caretaker of all participants. Results will be shared with local and national stakeholders, and disseminated via peer-reviewed open-access journals and scientific meetings.Trial registration numberNCT04285021.

scholarly journals Differential Laboratory Diagnosis of Acute Fever in Guinea: Preparedness for the Threat of Hemorrhagic Fevers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 6022
Author(s):  
Vladimir G. Dedkov ◽  
N’Faly Magassouba ◽  
Olga A. Stukolova ◽  
Victoria A. Savina ◽  
Jakob Camara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness ◽  
Causative Pathogen ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fevers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Pathognomonic Sign

Acute febrile illnesses occur frequently in Guinea. Acute fever itself is not a unique, hallmark indication (pathognomonic sign) of any one illness or disease. In the infectious disease context, fever’s underlying cause can be a wide range of viral or bacterial pathogens, including the Ebola virus. In this study, molecular and serological methods were used to analyze samples from patients hospitalized with acute febrile illness in various regions of Guinea. This analysis was undertaken with the goal of accomplishing differential diagnosis (determination of causative pathogen) in such cases. As a result, a number of pathogens, both viral and bacterial, were identified in Guinea as causative agents behind acute febrile illness. In approximately 60% of the studied samples, however, a definitive determination could not be made.

scholarly journals Scrub Typhus and Molecular Characterization of Orientia tsutsugamushi from Central Nepal

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 422
Author(s):  
Rajendra Gautam ◽  
Keshab Parajuli ◽  
Mythili Tadepalli ◽  
Stephen Graves ◽  
John Stenos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Orientia Tsutsugamushi ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Central Nepal ◽  
Vector Borne

Scrub typhus is a vector-borne, acute febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Scrub typhus continues to be an important but neglected tropical disease in Nepal. Information on this pathogen in Nepal is limited to serological surveys with little information available on molecular methods to detect O. tsutsugamushi. Limited information exists on the genetic diversity of this pathogen. A total of 282 blood samples were obtained from patients with suspected scrub typhus from central Nepal and 84 (30%) were positive for O. tsutsugamushi by 16S rRNA qPCR. Positive samples were further subjected to 56 kDa and 47 kDa molecular typing and molecularly compared to other O. tsutsugamushi strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Nepalese O. tsutsugamushi strains largely cluster together and cluster away from other O. tsutsugamushi strains from Asia and elsewhere. One exception was the sample of Nepal_1, with its partial 56 kDa sequence clustering more closely with non-Nepalese O. tsutsugamushi 56 kDa sequences, potentially indicating that homologous recombination may influence the genetic diversity of strains in this region. Knowledge on the circulating strains in Nepal is important to the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines to support public health measures to control scrub typhus in this country.

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