"A prospective study of etiology and outcome of acute febrile illness with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome " in patients admitted in intensive care unit

Background: Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) is a frequent cause of ICU admissions in tropical regions like India. Although often self-limiting, AFI can progress to Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Objective: To identify the etiology, clinical predictors, and outcomes of AFI progressing to MODS. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over 18 months in a medical ICU. Patients with AFI and MODS (≥2 organ dysfunctions) were evaluated for demographic, clinical, laboratory, and microbiological parameters. Disease severity was assessed using SOFA score. Results: Dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, rickettsial infections, and bacterial sepsis were common causes. Mortality correlated with elevated creatinine, bilirubin, CNS involvement, low MAP, and thrombocytopenia. Mixed infections increased mortality risk. Conclusion: MODS due to AFI poses a critical care challenge. Early identification of high-risk patients using simple markers can guide timely management and improve outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings.