Emergence of Chikungunya infection in North India

  • Krunal D Mehta Assistant Professor,Department of Microbiology MPSMC, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
  • Shruti Malik MD PDCC (Infectious Diseases), Senior resident, Department of Microbiology, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, U.P., India
  • K P Singh Associate professor, Department of Microbiology, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, U.P., India
  • T N Dhole MD Microbiology, Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, U.P. India
Keywords: Age, Chikungunya, Clinical features, Seasonal variation, sex correlation.

Abstract

Background: Since re-emergence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in Indian subcontinent in 2005, it has become a major public health threat. Because of paucity of literature from north India, we undertook this study to determine incidence of Chikungunya infection and to assess clinical spectrum of disease.Methods: 248 clinically suspected cases of CHIKV were enrolled. IgM ELISA for CHIKV was done on all samples. RT- PCR for CHIKV was performed on 53 selected samples.Result: Thirty samples were positive for CHIKV IgM  Ab of total 248 suspected cases. Of 53 samples tested by RT-PCR, 17 were found to be positive. Majority of the confirmed cases were in age group 21-40 yrs. Male: female ratio was 1.38:1. The most common clinical features were fever with joint pain and rash. Apthous ulcers were seen in 36% and arthritis was seen in 25% of the confirmed cases. Lymph nodes were enlarged in 16% and hemorrhagic manifestations were seen in 15.9% of the positive cases. Neurological involvement was present in 7 of the CHIKV infected cases and was more common in young children. Case fatality rate amongst CHIKV infected was 4.5% (2/248, both children).Conclusion: CHIKV IgM positivity of 12% was seen in the present study. Largest proportion of confirmed cases was in the age group 21-40 years. Neurological manifestations were present in 7 of CHIKV confirmed cases, five being children. Mortality in confirmed cases was 4.5%.  The increased severity of illnesss & high case fatality rate among children demands for a more detailed understanding of the neurotropism & needs to be analysed in detail. 

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Published
2016-10-18
Issue
Vol 3 No 4 (2016)
Section
Original Article

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