title: Chikungunya Fever Among Patients with Acute Febrile Illness Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chikungunya fever (CHIK) is an arboviral disease. Dengue fever (DENG) and CHIK are indistinguishable clinically and need to be differentiated by laboratory investigations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at estimating the seroprevalence of CHIK mono-infection and CHIK and DENG dual infection in suspected patients. We also analyzed the age, sex distribution, joint involvement, and relation of joint movement restriction with visual analog scale (VAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred patients clinically suspected with DENG and CHIK were enrolled from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai from April 2012 to October 2013. The detailed history and examination findings were recorded. Serum samples were subjected to DENG and CHIK immunoglobulin G (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence of CHIK was 12.5%. Mono-infection of CHIK was 3%, and CHIK and DENG dual infection was 9.5%. Most affected age group in CHIK cases was 46-60 years wherein female preponderance was seen. All 6 patients with CHIK mono-infection had fever and joint involvement; knee and elbow were the most commonly affected joints. All CHIK patients had VAS score of 6-10 with restricted joint movement. Of the patients with dual infection, the majorities were from 31 to 45 years with male preponderance; all had fever and joint pain mainly affecting knee and elbow. Of patients who had VAS score 6-10 in patients with dual infection, only 5.26% had restricted joint movement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IgM ELISA for Chikungunya infection should be included in the routine laboratory tests for acute febrile illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, GMC, Akola, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Lata Baswanna
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Galate
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, TNMC and BYL, Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sachee R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, TNMC and BYL, Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Jayanthi S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shastri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, TNMC and BYL, Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Londhey
keywords: Chikungunya; dengue; dual infection; seroprevalence