Typical and Atypical Manifestation of Scrub Typhus in Children

Dr. Sidhanta Kumar Behera | Dr. Sudipta Kumar Ram

Abstract: Background: Scrub typhus is grossly under-diagnosed or lately diagnosed in India because of its non-specific clinical presentation, a limited awareness about the disease, a low index of suspicion among clinicians, and a lack of diagnostic facilities. Absence of typical features may create diagnostic dilema among physicians. which may lead to complications & high mortality. Objective: 1. To asses the clinical profile, complication and outcome of scrub typhus in children. 2.To correlate the severity of clinical presentation with duration of symptoms & laboratory evidence of infection. Methods: A hospital based Cross sectional study which was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, And Department of Microbiology, VIMSAR, BURLA Odisha from August 2023 to January 2024. Children from 1 month to 14 years of age presenting with fever in whom rickettsia infection is suspected included. All children who are found to be Elisa or IgM positive for scrub typhus even if admitted for other disease included. Result: Out of 254 clinical samples male child are the most affected. The total leukocyte count was elevated in 30.6% of the cases. An elevated serum creatinine level or a change in the serum creatinine level greater than 0.3 mg/dl, which is a diagnostic of AKI, was observed in 28% of cases. Conclusion: Pediatric scrub typhus is a common infection and should be suspected in cases with fever for more than 5 days and non-specific signs and symptoms. Early detection and timely management lead to a higher recovery rate.

Keywords: Scrub typhus, Rickettsia, Lymphadenopathy, Eschar, Hepatosplenomegaly, pallor

Edition: Volume 13 Issue 2, February 2024,

Pages: 1563 - 1566