CHARACTERISTICS OF RICKETTSIACEAE INFECTION AMONG ACUTE FEVER PATIENTS IN NORTHERN PROVINCES HOSPITAL IN VIETNAM FROM MAY 2018 TO OCTOBER 2019

Thi Thuy Phuong Nguyen, Vu Trung Nguyen, Thi Hoi Le

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Abstract

Objectives: Determine the prevalence of Rickettsiae and describe some epidemiological characteristics and clinical symptoms of patients infected with Rickettsiaceae in 10 hospitals in the North of Vietnam.


Subjects and methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study of 988 acute fever patients, suspected of being infected with Rickettsiaceae, at 10 hospitals in the northern of Vietnam: Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Nam Dinh, Hung Yen and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (Hanoi) from May 2018 to October 2019,. Realtime - PCR technique was used for definitive diagnosis in the study.


Results and conclusions: The results showed that the prevalence of Rickettsiaceae infection was 28.5% in which scrub typhus caused by O.tsutsugamushi; murin typhus caused by R. typhi and Rickettsia spotted fever group accounted for 23.2%; 4.9% and 1.3% respectively. The disease occurred in all ages, highest in working age from 16 to 60 years old (63.1%), in both sexes equally, scattered all year round, peak from May to October, mainly in rural areas (78%), with multiple occupation like farmer (45.4%). Patients are distributed in 23 different provinces and cities in the North and North Central regions, mainly in mountainous provinces. Clinical manifestations included: fever (100%), headache (87.6%), skin congestion (69.9%), eschar (55.7%). Recommendation: Realtime PCR should be applied in the definitive diagnosis of Rickettsiae in patients with acute febrile illness of undetermined cause when there are suspicious manifestations. Further study on the learning characteristics of Rickettsiae species above nationwide need to implement, thereby providing preventive measures and effective treatment.

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