STUDYING THE VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVER IN WEST BENGAL SUBJECTS DUE TO CHIKUNGUNYA AND DENGUE

Abstract

BackgroundNumerous viruses with single-stranded RNA, including the widely distributed Flaviviridae, Bunyaviridae, Filoviridae, and Arenaviridae, are the cause of viral hemorrhagic fever. Dengue fever, Kyasanur forest disease, and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) are the three most prevalent viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) in India (KFD). There aren't much VHF statistics available in India.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shared aetiology of dengue hemorrhagic fever and chikungunya in Indian patients suffering from viral hemorrhagic fever.

Methods: Serum samples were taken from 102 individuals who were suspected of having viral hemorrhagic fever. MAC-ELISA was used to find IgM antibodies specific to dengue and chikungunya. RT-PCR was then used to identify dengue-specific nucleic acid and chikungunya. Clinicodemographic and laboratory characteristics were evaluated for each individual. 

Results: Out of the 102 participants, 32 were found to have a verified diagnosis of viral hemorrhagic fever. Two individuals received a confirmed diagnosis of chikungunya, and six cases had co-infections of dengue and chikungunya.

The study subjects' diagnoses were Grade I with chikungunya in 18.75% (n=6), Grade I in 6.25% (n=2), Grade II in 37.5% (n=12), Grade III in 18.75% (n=60), Grade IV in 12.5% (n=4), and chikungunya in 6.25% (n=2) study subjects, respectively. 

Conclusion: Within the constraints of the research, the current study finds that hemorrhagic symptoms recorded in Indian subjects may be caused by chikungunya infection, and that Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is not observed in human subjects living in India.