Infectious etiologies of acute febrile illness among patients seeking health care in south-central Cambodia.
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.
Matthew R
MR
Kasper
Patrick J
PJ
Blair
Sok
S
Touch
Buth
B
Sokhal
Chadwick Y
CY
Yasuda
Maya
M
Williams
Allen L
AL
Richards
Timothy H
TH
Burgess
Thomas F
TF
Wierzba
Shannon D
SD
Putnam
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003715:Dengue / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013048:Specimen Handling; D055815:Young Adult