Etiologies of Fever in Patients Hospitalised in Centre Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital Centre from 2019 to 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Fever is a common, polymorphic, and nonspecific symptom that poses a diagnostic challenge in tropical countries where multiple infectious agents co-circulate. In Burkina Faso, the main reported cause remains malaria. In Burkina Faso, studies have shown that the causes of fever are dominated by malaria, which is endemic throughout the country, with a seasonal peak from June to October, and accounts for 43% of medical consultations and 22% of deaths. The etiologies of fevers can have serious consequences on the patient's general health condition and quality of life, and can be life-threatening and functionally compromising, thus requiring appropriate and early treatment. Aim: This study aimed to describe the etiologies of fevers hospitalised in the infectious diseases department of the CHU-YO in Ouagadougou. Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. All patients hospitalised for fever ≥ 38.3°C on admission and during hospitalisation were included. Medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiology were considered for the diagnostic approach. Sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, and evolutionary data were extracted from medical records and analysed using Stata 17 software. Results: Among 1,077 hospitalisations, 551 febrile cases were identified (hospital frequency: 51.16%). The mean age of patients was 38.2 ± 11.8 years, with a predominance of males (54.8%). Acute febrile. Conclusion: Vector-borne diseases (dengue and malaria) and tuberculosis, frequently associated with HIV, were the main causes of fever. These results highlight the need for systematic differential diagnosis and strengthened prevention strategies.