CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF HOSPITALIZED H1N1 PNEUMONITIS CASES IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL OF WESTERN INDIA DURING 2009-2010 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Introduction: In late March and early April 2009, an outbreak of H1N1 influenza a virus infection was detected in Mexico. The first case of this flu in India was found at the Hyderabad airport on 13 May. As of 15 November 2009, 15411 cases of swine flu have been confirmed and 523 deaths been reported in India.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study includes all adult, confirmed H1N1 positive patients in Category “C” admitted in “Swine Flu Ward” of SMIMER hospital, Surat, during the H1N1 pandemic 2009-2010. Detailed clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were done in all 40 enrolled patients.

Results: Out of total admitted 40 H1N1 positive and category C patients, 9 patients expired and 31 patients cured and discharged. Mean age of expired patients and of cured patients was 32 years and 36 years respectively. Most common symptom was fever (100%) and cough (92.5%). Breathlessness was significantly more common (p value<0.05) in patients who expired as compared to patients who got cured. Mean SGPT and SGOT was three times higher in non-fatal cases as compared to non-fatal cases. In 88.89% of the fatal cases shows higher SGPT and SGOT level more than upper normal limit which was statistically significant   (p value<0.05).

Conclusion: Fever was most common symptom followed by cough, headache/bodyache, throat pain, breathlessness and running nose. Poor prognostic factor were Breathlessness on admission, delay more than 2 days, cyanosis on admission, hepatic dysfunction, low platelet count.