Original Articles

Clinical spectrum of scrub typhus in Eastern India: A 3 year experience

Authors:

Abstract

Introduction: Scrub typhus is a serious public health problem in Eastern India.


Objectives: To study the clinical spectrum and complications of scrub typhus and its doxycycline responsiveness.


Method: This study was carried out over a 3 year period on 203 serologically confirmed scrub typhus cases in a tertiary care centre in Eastern India.


Results: Fever (100%), facial puffiness (66.5%), vomiting (51.7%) and headache (39.4%) were common symptoms whilst hepatosplenomegaly (61.6%) and generalised lymphadenopathy (60.1%) were common signs. Meningoencephalitis (33.4%) and shock (26.6%) were common complications. Shock, congestive heart failure (CHF), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH had delayed response to doxycycline therapy.


Conclusions: In this study meningoencephalitis and shock were the common complications of scrub typhus. Meningo-encephalitis, hepatitis and pneumonia had favourable doxycycline response whilst shock, CCF. DIC, HLH and AKI had delayed doxycycline response (p<0.05).


Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2021; 50(4): 610-616

Keywords:

Scrub typhusEastern IndiaTrendDoxycycline responseComplications
  • Year: 2021
  • Volume: 50 Issue: 4
  • Page/Article: 610-616
  • DOI: 10.4038/sljch.v50i4.9847
  • Published on 5 Dec 2021
  • Peer Reviewed