Etiological spectrum of acute febrile illness in adult males in Eastern India: A cross-sectional observational study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: This cross-sectional observational study, conducted at a tertiary care center in Eastern India from January 2021 to June 2022, investigated the etiological spectrum of acute febrile illness (AFI) in adult males (>14 years). Methods: We analyzed data of 3218 serological tests for dengue, malaria, enteric fever, scrub typhus, and leptospirosis from consecutive samples. Results: The overall positivity rate was 9.04%, with enteric fever (17.54% Typhidot, 13.80% Widal), scrub typhus (17.73%), dengue (7.35%), leptospirosis (3.20%), and malaria (0.24%) identified. Bacterial infections predominated. Rural and urban distributions varied, with leptospirosis showing higher urban prevalence (83.33%) and scrub typhus more common in rural areas (59.57%), with positivity peaks in September-December 2021. Conclusion: This study reveals the diverse etiologies of AFI in adult males in Eastern India, with bacterial etiologies such as enteric fever and scrub typhus predominating from September to December 2021, emphasizing the need for integrated diagnostics approaches, to guide clinical management and strengthened sanitation and vector control in this endemic setting.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7222809790