Establishing the role of Demographic, Clinical and Laboratory Parameters in Scrub typhus patients from a tertiary care centre

Authors

  • Gandi Srinivasa Rao Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Gayathri Vidya Parishad Institute of Healthcare and Medical technology (GVPIHC&MT),Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Krishna Divya Poruri Assistant Professor , Department of Pathology, Gayathri Vidya Parishad Institute of Healthcare and Medical Technology(GVPIHC&MT),Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • CH. Krishna Reddy Specilist Medical Officer, CRPF, India

Keywords:

Doxycycline; ELISA; Eschar; Rickettsial diseases; Scrub typhus

Abstract

Background: Scrub typhus (ST) is one of the common Rickettsial diseases caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium, Orientia tsutsugamushi (Orientia). It is transmitted to humans by bite of larval mites or chiggers of Leptotrombidium group, which usually feed on the wild rats of the subgenus Rattus. The disease generally presents as acute febrile with symptoms like fever, headache, eschar, myalgia, maculopapular rash, lymphadenopathy, breathlessness, cough, nausea, vomiting, and coagulopathies that can result in circulatory system collapse. Serological tests still remains the main stay for the diagnosis of scrub typhus. Doxycycline is the preferred drug in the treatment of scrub typhus. Materials and methods: A total of 40 confirmed cases of scrub typhus by IgM ELISA were studied. The blood samples collected from subjected to processing for detection of specific IgM antibodies against the causative agent Orientia tsutsugamushi by ELISA method. Other relevant investigations which are required for diagnosis were also performed. Result: Out of 40 cases diagnosed of scrub typhus with positive serology for IgM ELISA, 21 cases were female and 19 were male. Maximum cases belonged to 50-59 years age group, 31 cases were from rural areas with 37 cases reported in farmers or agriculture workers. The common symptoms of these patients include fever, weakness and myalgia. The frequent signs noted in these patients include eschar, lymphadenopathy, and hypotension. The common abnormal laboratory parameters observed in these patients include thrombocytopenia, increased transaminase and leucocytosis. Conclusion: As scrub typhus is endemic in many parts of India, a high index of clinical suspicion is required for diagnosis of scrub typhus due to varied clinical presentations, non specific blood parameters and lack of highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tests, especially in rural areas. Serological tests still remains the main stay for the diagnosis of scrub typhus. Doxycycline remains the antibiotic of choice for treatment of scrub typhus

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Published

2021-02-07

How to Cite

Rao, G. S., Poruri, K. D., & Reddy, C. K. (2021). Establishing the role of Demographic, Clinical and Laboratory Parameters in Scrub typhus patients from a tertiary care centre. International Journal of Health and Clinical Research, 4(3), 41–44. Retrieved from https://ijhcr.com/index.php/ijhcr/article/view/867