Study of Suspects / Probable Cases of H1N1 --- Under the Light of Swine Flu Epidemic 2015

Abstract

Background:The Influenza A H1N1 virus is a highly contagious pathogen which caused the 2009 influenza pandemic. Early case detection and treatment as per WHO guidelines is necessary to reduce the spread, morbidity and mortality of both confirmed and suspects of H1N1 infection and itis the foundation of all efforts to understand and control influenza. Objectives: 1. To study epidemiological profile of suspected cases of swineflu inrelation to outcome. 2. The purpose of this study was to find the proportion of confirmed swine flu “cases” among the total cases who were presented with acute respiratory illness during the epidemic of swineflu. Material and Methods: This study was carried out in Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Tropical and Communicable Disease(SRRIT&CD), Hyderabad during Swineflu epidemic period of 3 months period (January 2015 to March2015). The Epidemiological profiles of all suspects/ probable of H1N1 cases were analyzed with reference to age, sex and monthwise distribution,morbidity and also the outcome.Information was collected using predesigned proforma from all “suspects” of swineflu admitted to isolation wards. Results: Out of total 331 cases with acute respiratory illness, 85 (25.68%) were found to be positiveand were excluded from the study.Rest of 246(74.32%) suspects were included in this study. Maximum cases 118 (47.97%) reported between 21 – 40 years of age group with most of them being admitted in the month February2015 i.e. 118 (47.97%). The morbidity of disease is more in females compared to males. Out of 246 cases, 116 patients (47.15%) showed morbidity with the major complication being Bronchitis with bronchospasm followed by Unilateral and Bilateral Pneumonias and Koch’s lesions. There were 56 cases of Bronchitis(22.76%), 38 cases of bilateral Pneumonia(15.44%) and 20 cases of unilateral Pneumonia(10.56%) and 2 cases of Koch’s lesion(0.87%) Conclusion:Early case detection can reduce the burden of disease of both confirmed as well as suspected cases, so the health system should be strengthened and early reporting should be encouraged through various health campaigns. We carried out a descriptive study, in order to study the epidemiology and establish the magnitude and severity of acute respiratory illness which mimic swineflu in our community in the recent 2015 epidemic.