Title: Study of Trends of Chikungunya and Dengue in Aurangabad and Periphery
Abstract: Dengue and chikungunya are infectious diseases that often result in hospitalizations and are associated with high public health costs. Due to the similarity of symptoms between dengue and chikungunya, improved diagnostic tests are desperately needed. Thus ELISA plays a key role to differentaiate between the two. The Aim/Scope of the study was to detect the seropositivity of Dengue and Chikungunya based on ELISA & study the trends in relation to season, region, gender and admission pattern. Study population included Serum Samples received from clinically suspected patients of Dengue and Chikungunya. Study period taken up was from June 2015 to May 2016. For Dengue, NS1 ELISA was done in fever less than 5 days while IgM ELISA was done in fever more than 5 days & IgM ELISA for suspected Chikungunya patients. Also, 42 samples tested for both Dengue and Chikungunya. Chikungunya showed a monthwise steady increasing trend from August to December followed by downfall. Males showed more seropositivity for Dengue while Females, for Chikungunya. Aurangabad city showed more cases of Dengue while periphery of Aurangabad showed more cases of Chikungunya. Suspicious In patient cases showed more seropositivity for Dengue,thus suggesting Dengue being a more severe form and more life threatening. 42 samples that were sent for both Dengue and Chikungunya tests, showed that 12 samples were Positive for Chikungunya & one patient showed co-infection. Thus, apart from getting to know the seasonal, regional,gender and admission related differences between the two diseases our study also lead to the conclusion that cases suspected for Dengue should be tested for Chikungunya as well and vice versa, for limiting the chances of misdiagnosis/ underdiagnosis and knowing actual rate of Incidence.