Etiology of Fever in Pregnant Women in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Background: To study the incidence and etiology of fever in pregnancy. Methods: Prospective descriptive study conducted over a period of 24 months from September 2005 to August 2007 in the department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. All the admitted pregnant women with fever ≥100.4 °F (≥38 °C) were enrolled in the study after taking verbal consent. They were investigated and managed according to the hospital protocol. Complete blood count, urine for routine, microscopy, culture and sensitivity, blood culture for Salmonella, Widal test, and blood for malarial parasite were routinely sent for all the cases. Tests like liver function test, AFB staining and culture were done whenever it was thought to be necessary. Result: Total 82 cases of pregnancy with fever were admitted during the study period which accounted for 3.2% of the total pregnancy related admission. Common causes of fever were Urinary tract infection (43.9%), Enteric fever (23.1%) and viral hepatitis (8.53%). Chicken pox (1.2%), Mastitis (1.2%) and tuberculosis (1.2%) were the uncommon etiology. Fever with flu like symptoms without specific diagnosis was present in 20.73% of the cases. Conclusion: Urinary tract infection and enteric fever were the most common cause of fever during pregnancy.Definitve diagnosis was not made in large number of cases due to limited diagnostic facilities for viral infections.