A descriptive study of seasonal influenza cases in a single season in a tertiary center in Kathmandu

Authors

  • Nandini Shrestha Department of Anaesthesiology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Bipin Karki Department of Critical Care Medicine, Om Hospital & Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Pramesh Sunder Shrestha Department of Anaesthesiology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Santosh Acharya Department of Critical Care Medicine. Hospital for Advanced Medicine and Surgery – HAMS, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Sangita Tamang Department of Critical Care Medicine, Om Hospital & Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Sachit Regmi Department of Critical Care Medicine, Om Hospital & Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Subodh Sagar Dhakal Department of Critical Care Medicine, Om Hospital & Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Bishwanath Koirala Department of Internal Medicine, Om Hospital & Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/gmj.v2i1.45702

Keywords:

ARDS, influenza, Ischemic stroke, PCR, Scrub typhus

Abstract

Introduction: This is a clinic-epidemiological study of the total cases of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed influenza cases. We aim to characterize the disease, its morbidities and mortality.

Materials and Methods: The details of all PCR confirmed influenza (H1N1) cases were obtained from the hospital records and descriptive statistical analysis tools were used to report the findings.

Results: A total of 35 cases were confirmed as influenza from January to March 2019. The most common presenting complaints were fever (91%), cough (85%) and shortness of breath (65%). The most frequent diagnosis made was pneumonia (88%). Septic shock was present in 29% while 14% had acute kidney injury (AKI). Oxygen therapy was required in 71% with 17% requiring mechanical ventilation and another 11% requiring non-invasive ventilation. Fourteen percent had developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring proning. A total of 77% patients were successfully discharged home, 8% were transferred to other centers on request for various reasons and 11% were withdrawn from all active treatment leading to death. One patient was taken home against advice whose outcome could not be traced. During treatment, two patients had developed ischemic stroke, two required haemodialysis for acute renal failure and other two had scrub typhus co-infection.

Conclusions: A total of 85% of the patient survived while the rest lost their lives. The most important factor recognized was the financial burden associated with the treatment. Diagnostic delays and limited supply of Oseltamivir might be the other barriers in the treatment of the disease.

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Published

2020-12-28

How to Cite

Shrestha, N., Karki, B., Shrestha, P. S., Acharya, S., Tamang, S., Regmi, S., Dhakal, S. S., & Koirala, B. (2020). A descriptive study of seasonal influenza cases in a single season in a tertiary center in Kathmandu. Grande Medical Journal, 2(1), 32–36. https://doi.org/10.3126/gmj.v2i1.45702

Issue

Section

Census Data & Epidemiology