Doxycycline, an age-old antibiotic, has proven benefits for most infections that cause AFI. A sudden fever of more than 100.4C caused by bacterial, virus, parasites, or protozoan infections can be Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and must not be ignored. In India, AFI incidences may occur throughout the year. The higher presentation is seen in monsoon and winters extending up to February.
In South India, it can continue in other months including the summer because of round the clock central air conditioning in newer buildings. Majority of the AFI conditions are due to vector borne diseases like dengue, typhoid fever, malaria, chikungunya, scrub typhus, rickettsia, and leptospirosis. These vector borne diseases are spread due to blood-feeding mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Speaking about this, Dr KK Aggarwal, president, Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), says, “Vector borne diseases like scrub typhus are on the rise. If not treated in time, the patient may end up with multi-organ failure.
Most cases of brain fever deaths were due to scrub typhus. Doxycycline, an age-old antibiotic, has proven benefits for most infections that cause AFI including scrub typhus. Physicians should thus consider it a safe and effective treatment option for AFI”.
In most situations, it may not be possible to diagnose AFI based on clinical presentation alone, additional lab tests are required. Often doctors prescribe the use of safe empirical antibiotics along with anti-fever pill till the investigation results are available. Doxycycline has anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory properties and also plays an anti-viral role in dengue fever.
Measures
– Avoid mosquito bites using mosquito repellents, nets, long sleeve shirts, and pants
– Maintain cleanliness in and around
– Always consult a doctor in case of fever
– Never self-medicate. #KhabarLive