Abstract

Background: Acute febrile illness (AFI)is specified as sudden onset of fever of unknown
origin lasting for 1-14 days. AFI may be caused by pathogens like bacteria, viruses,
parasites, and fungi leading to infectious diseases. Dengue is a vector-borne viral disease
that is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Dengue NS1 Ag is released into the
blood during viral replication in infected patients and is detectable from the first day
after fever. As NS1 Ag can be identified promptly, it acts as a beneficial biomarker for
the early detection of dengue, allowing rapid management of dengue fever.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on blood samples of
patients presenting with acute febrile illness in OPD/IPD of a tertiary care hospital from
September 2019- December 2019. Out of 694 samples, the samples which were 2 mL in
quantity, non-hemolytic, non-lipemic, maintained in cold chain along with complete
demographic data were selected for the present study i.e. n=270.
Results: Blood samples of 270 patients who presented with acute febrile illness and met
with our inclusion criteria were tested for dengue NS1 antigen/IgM antibodies based on
their fever history. Out of 270, 120 patients tested positive for dengue.
Conclusion: To conclude, patients in tropical countries presenting in the post-monsoon
season with acute febrile illness not responding to appropriate and adequate therapy
aimed for a suspected tropical infection such as dengue should be evaluated for
concurrent infections with other microorganisms.