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Analysis Study Research Paper | Paediatrics | India | Volume 12 Issue 2, February 2023

Clinical Profile, Complications and Outcome of Scrub Typhus in Children: A Hospital Based Observational Study in Anantapur

Dr. V B Aishwarya | Dr. M Suhasini | Dr. N Praveen Deen Kumar | Dr. S Srilatha

Abstract: Scrub typhus, an important cause of tropical fever in northern Australia, the western Pacific islands and South Asia including India, is caused by a zoonotic obligate intracellular, gram negative bacteria, transmitted by a bite of trombiculid mite, the chigger [1, 2]. The disease is grossly under - diagnosed in low and middle incomecountries (LMICs) as the presentation and index of suspicion is low among clinicians. Limited awareness about the disease and lack of diagnostic facilities in developing nations like India are also important reasons for the under - diagnosis of the disease and delay in specific treatment have been reported to be associated with increased case fatality rates [2]. Scrub typhus in India was first ever reported in 1981 and a hospital based study carried out in 2004 found 28 cases of scrub typhus among 876 enrolled febrile patients [3]. Scrub typhus can manifest with nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, myalgia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and thrombocytopenia and hence it should be considered as an important cause of acute undifferentiated fever in tropical and subtropical regions [5?7]. Although few studies have been reported previously, the data of scrub typhus in children is scarce. Therefore, a hospital based study was conducted in Anantapur district to study the clinical, laboratory profile and therapeutic outcome of scrub typhus in children aged 1?12 years of life.

Keywords: Scrub Typhus, Hospital based study, underdiagnosed, disease, tropical

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 2, February 2023,

Pages: 450 - 453