Tirupati Reddy Chirra, Sakuntala Putrevu
BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus has been associated with increased rates of infections. Diabetic patients have more frequency and severity of infections. Evidence from clinical studies for a causal relation between diabetes and common infections is, however, limited and not consistent. The reason for this includes incompletely defined abnormalities in cell mediated immunity and phagocyte function associated with hyperglycaemia and also less vascular perfusion of the tissues. Hyperglycaemia aids the colonisation and also growth of a variety of organisms. Fungal infections like candida are more commonly seen in the patients who are suffering from persistent hyperglycaemia. Many common infections are more frequent and also more severe in diabetic population, whereas rare infections are seen almost every day seen in diabetic patients. These infections should be sought, in particular with patients presenting with hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state. This study puts in a sincere effort to study and understand the patterns of infection burden commonly encountered in the diabetic mellitus patients. This study is intended to help the practising physicians and diabetologists to understand and help the patients to recover from the disease. METHODS Three hundred twenty patients who were freshly diagnosed diabetics were included in the study. The study group included males predominantly and a few female candidates. So gender based statistical analysis could not be done. The study was done in the Department of Medicine, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana. The study was done from June 2013 to May 2014. RESULT In upper respiratory tract infections, 31 patients had acute rhinolaryngitis, 11 patients had acute sinusitis and 14 had acute otitis media. In lower respiratory tract infections, 139 had acute bronchitis, 6 had pneumonia, 59 patients had exacerbation of COPD and asthma and 19 patients had influenza. In urinary tract infection, 19 patients had cystitis, 9 patients had acute pyelonephritis. In Bacterial skin and mucous membrane infection, 7 otitis externa patients were there, 2 cellulitis and 4 furuncles or abscess on nose were present. In mycotic skin and mucous membrane infections, 3 were thought to have skin candida infections. There is a strong association of the infections in the diabetic mellitus patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Diabetes Mellitus depresses the immunity and causes a plethora of infections. This study helps the practising physicians to understand the common secondary infections and thus help them to take immediate measures to prevent further complications and arrest the natural progression of the disease.
