BrS = Brugada syndrome; SCD = sudden cardiac death; VF =
ventricular fibrillation; VT = ventricular tachycardia.
Several studies linked the new discovery of Brugada syndrome with fever
(13, 14), fever associated with illness such as tonsillitis or
pneumonia, unmasking Brugada, and eventually leading to fatal
arrhythmias and possible death(15). It has been discovered that the gene
SCN5A encodes Thr1620Met which forms the alpha unit of the sodium
channel in the heart. This protein is affected by temperature, the
higher the temperature, the faster the decay of this protein and that’s
what reveals the syndrome (16). Another study indicates that Brugada ECG
changes are 20 times more obvious when associated with high fever (17).
CONCLUSION:The characteristic ECG findings of Brugada Syndrome are more pronounced
in febrile illnesses such as dengue fever. The syndrome can thus be
diagnosed by taking ECG during such febrile episodes. Patients
presenting with arrhythmias can be managed accordingly, to prevent the
progression and complications. In conclusion, Doctors treating patients
with febrile illnesses should have high index of suspicion and be ready
to manage it. Febrile illnesses need to be taken care of, by quick
control of temperature. Further studies on this subject should be done
to understand more about the degree of association, other precipitating
factors and various treatment modalities.