Incidences, Causes, and Outcomes of Febrile Illness in Rural South and Southeast Asia
Incidences, Causes, and Outcomes of Febrile Illness in Rural South and Southeast Asia
The study will collect information to understand the causes and outcomes of febrile illness
 in rural areas in countries across South and Southeast Asia ( including Cambodia, Laos,
 Myanmar and Bangladesh). The findings will be used to identify new tests and treatments that
 can improve the management of febrile patients in the future.
This study aims to better understand and quantify the burden of febrile illness, the
 aetiological causes and the manner in which it affects the people living in rural areas in
 South and Southeast Asia, all on a scale which has not been attempted before. The SEACTN RFI
 project will collect information to help better understand and predict these outcomes based
 on a multitude of factors, which will form the basis for interventions within the network in
 the future. Determining the incidence, causes and outcomes of febrile illness in these
 settings will be done through two work packages. The first of these, Work Package A (WP-A),
 the subject of this study, will be carried out at the community level, primarily by engaging
 village health worker (VHWs) and low-level Health Centres (HCs) which serve the communities
 to recruit patients presenting with a febrile illness. These patients will be assessed for
 presenting symptoms and followed up for clinical outcomes. Collection of specimen for
 diagnostic investigations in these settings is challenging. Currently, mRDTs are conducted by
 VHWs and HCs in these networks, therefore by using the same process, but also applying blood
 to filter paper and allowing it to dry (DBS), investigators will test for certain other
 pathogens, which will increase the aetiological yield.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Documented fever (≥ 37.5°C axillary), hypothermia (< 35.5°C) and/or history of fever
 in the last 24 hours.

 -  Willingness and ability to comply with study protocol for the study duration.

 -  Written informed consent given to participate in the trial.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Currently enrolled in the study

 -  Accident or trauma is the cause for presentation

 -  Presentation ≤ 3 days after routine immunisations