Clinical and Etiological Profile of Acute Febrile Illness in Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64149/J.Carcinog.25.1.233-241Keywords:
Acute Febrile Illness, Children, Etiology, Dengue, Enteric Fever, Scrub Typhus, Tertiary CareAbstract
Background: Acute febrile illness (AFI) is a leading cause of pediatric visits and admissions worldwide. The nonspecific presentation of AFI and broad etiological spectrum present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Objective: To describe the clinical features, laboratory profile, etiological distribution, complications and outcomes of children presenting with acute febrile illness to a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: Hospital-based observational study including children aged 1 month–14 years with fever ≤14 days (n = 100). Standardized history, physical exam, and investigations (CBC, peripheral smear, CRP, urine analysis, blood culture, disease-specific tests such as dengue NS1/IgM, malaria antigen/smear, Widal, scrub typhus IgM) were performed. Data were tabulated and analyzed descriptively.
Results: Among 100 children, median age distribution showed predominance in 1–5 years (36%) with male:female = 56:44. Common symptoms included vomiting (48%), cough (42%), and headache (34%). Etiologies identified: viral fever (34%), dengue (18%), enteric fever (12%), malaria (10%), bacterial sepsis (8%), UTI (8%), pneumonia (6%), scrub typhus (4%). Complications occurred in 30% (shock 8%, bleeding 10%, seizures 6%), mortality 2%. Median hospital stay was 4–7 days in 46%.
Conclusions: Viral illnesses remain the most frequent cause of AFI, but dengue, enteric fever, malaria, and bacterial infections are important contributors. A protocolized approach with region-specific diagnostic testing improves etiological yield and guides management.
