With the onset of the monsoon, the number of cases of febrile illnesses increases and this trend persists through the winter months. Increase of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) is a major concern during monsoon in India. Apart from vectors, water and food-borne illnesses are another concern during rains. The most prevailing vector-borne diseases include malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, Japanese encephalitis, rickettsial infections, kala-azar, lymphatic filariasis and chikungunya, whereas the most common water-borne diseases are typhoid and viral hepatitis. The arthropod-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria and zoonotic infections like leptospirosis and scrub typhus are endemic in many parts of India during the monsoon season.
These infections may be clinically indistinguishable with acute onset of fever, chills, generalized myalgia, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, breathlessness, altered sensorium, and fatigue being the common features of many infections that are endemic in India.
Monsoon-related diseases mostly remain unreported to a doctor or a hospital until they progress to undesirable complications. But, it is crucial to diagnose and treat these diseases early. Dealing with such illnesses require extra-careful precautions as most common illnesses are related to respiratory and gastrointestinal system which cannot be overlooked. Here are some illnesses which are highly prevalent during this season.
It’s crucial to get yourself diagnosed early to avoid any complications like haemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome in case of dengue; seizures, pneumonia and respiratory failure in case of flu; acute liver failure in hepatitis; intestinal bleeding and holes (perforation) in typhoid; renal failure and systemic shock in leptospirosis and even death if they remain untreated.
Fever is the most common manifestation of monsoon-related diseases. Agilus offers a wide range of tests useful in the evaluation of fever viz. routine blood examination, microbial culture, microscopy, biochemical tests and molecular diagnostics (PCR).
Steps in Evaluation of Fever
- Nearly always initiated by medical history and physical examination
- Routine blood examination
- Microbial culture
- Microscopy
- Biochemical tests
- Molecular diagnostics (PCR)
- Other techniques (such as X-rays, CT scans, PET scans or NMR) are used to produce images of internal abnormalities resulting from the growth of an infectious agent (e.g. abscess, cavity etc.)
Agilus has a comprehensive testing mechanism which has BACTEC advantage that evaluates the cultures for illnesses with decreased time-to-detection, and leads to potential decrease in length of hospital stay. We also have FDA-approved, advanced culture and drug susceptibility testing systems which provide rapid diagnosis and has enhanced sensitivity & specificity with less chances of contamination. Variety of panel formats (conventional and synergy) support any workflow with a range of antibiotics being updated every year including the latest drugs as per CLSI guidelines. The methodology helps ensure detection of emerging and low-level resistance as well.
Some of the tests specific for monsoon-related diseases available at Agilus are:
- Fever Screening Panel – CBC, ESR, CRP, Blood Culture/ Sensitivity, Rapid Typhi IgM, Malaria Ag Detection & Urinalysis
- Malaria: Malarial Parasite (MP) Smear, Malarial Parasite (MP) Antigen
- Dengue: CBC, Dengue NS1 Antigen, Dengue IgM, PCR
- DENGMAL – Dengue Abs (Rapid), MP, CBC
- ENTEROQUICK – Bactec Blood Culture & Rapid Thyphi IgM
- Typhoid: Blood Culture, Rapid Typhoid IgM
- TYPHI-D – CBC, ESR, Urinalysis, Widal, Culture Preliminary & Final
- Leptospirosis: Serology/ Microscopy/ PCR
- LEPTOCHEQ
- Swine Flu: PCR
- Hepatitis Screening Panel – CBC, SGPT, SGOT, Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin, Indirect Bilirubin, HBsAg, HAV IgM, HEP E IgM
- Hepatitis A & E: Serology, PCR
- Comprehensive Viral Flu Panel (Influenza A, Influenza B, Para Influenza, RSV & Novel H1N1 Virus)
Finally, one should avoid self-medication with antibiotics. If symptoms are severe or long lasting, visit the doctor to rule out any bacterial infection. Early testing can save time, energy and further complications.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
