Prevalence of Coinfection of Enteric Fever with Dengue in Paediatric Age Group: A Descriptive Observational Study

Background: Treatment and diagnosis are difficult when dengue and typhoid illness co-occur. Without test proof, it can be challenging to accurately diagnose and treat these two disorders due to their comparable symptoms and differential diagnoses. They both pose a diagnostic problem, particularly in young patients, because they are endemic in India and mirror clinical presentation. When treating patients with dengue, clinicians must be well aware of the possibility of concomitant typhoid fever. Only a few isolated cases of dengue and typhoid co-infection have been reported. The objective is to find out prevalence of coinfection of enteric fever with dengue in paediatric age group and its age and gender association. Material and Methods: A total of 1608 blood samples from pediatric age group were collected having history of fever. The study was carried out at Department of Microbiology at Government Medical College, Dharashiv. Results: Dengue and Typhoid coinfection was found in 120 cases out of 1608 paediatric patients showing the prevalence of Dengue and Typhoid coinfection as 7.5% in our study. Distribution of coinfection prevalence according to age group and gender showed that out of 99 male cases of coinfection, majority were from 6-10 years age group i.e. 49.5% followed by 33.3% from 1-5 years and 17.2% from 11-15 years age group. Out of 21 female cases of coinfection, majority were from 11-15 years age group i.e. 38.1% followed by 33.3% from 1-5 years and 28.6% from 11-15 years age group. Conclusion: Prevalence of Dengue and Typhoid coinfection as 7.5% in our study. Prevalence was more in male cases of coinfection with majority cases were from 6-10 years age group i.e. 49.5% and out of 21 female cases of coinfection, majority were from 11-15 years age group i.e. 38.1%. Keywords: prevalence, coinfection, enteric fever with dengue, paediatric.