Infectious etiologies of acute febrile illness among patients seeking health care in south-central Cambodia

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Feb;86(2):246-253. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0409.

Abstract

The agents of human febrile illness can vary by region and country suggesting that diagnosis, treatment, and control programs need to be based on a methodical evaluation of area-specific etiologies. From December 2006 to December 2009, 9,997 individuals presenting with acute febrile illness at nine health care clinics in south-central Cambodia were enrolled in a study to elucidate the etiologies. Upon enrollment, respiratory specimens, whole blood, and serum were collected. Testing was performed for viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens. Etiologies were identified in 38.0% of patients. Influenza was the most frequent pathogen, followed by dengue, malaria, and bacterial pathogens isolated from blood culture. In addition, 3.5% of enrolled patients were infected with more than one pathogen. Our data provide the first systematic assessment of the etiologies of acute febrile illness in south-central Cambodia. Data from syndromic-based surveillance studies can help guide public health responses in developing nations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Cambodia / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Dengue / complications
  • Dengue / epidemiology*
  • Developing Countries
  • Female
  • Fever / epidemiology*
  • Fever / etiology*
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis E virus / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human / complications
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Malaria / complications
  • Malaria / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Orientia tsutsugamushi / isolation & purification
  • Orientia tsutsugamushi / pathogenicity
  • Orthohantavirus / isolation & purification
  • Orthohantavirus / pathogenicity
  • Prevalence
  • Public Health
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification
  • Rickettsia / pathogenicity
  • Specimen Handling
  • Young Adult