A study of scrub typhus in a medical college hospital in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Scrub typhus is one of the leading causes of acute unexplained fever in children. The objective of this study was to determine the serological evidence of scrub typhus and associated clinical features in febrile children.   Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed for a duration of 21 months. Children aged below 12 years, admitted with unexplained fever and other clinical features suggestive of scrub typhus and tested for IgM against scrub typhus were included in our study. A detailed history, clinical profile and sero-prevalence of the children were analysed from record files.   Results: Four hundred and seventy one clinically suspected patients of below 12 years were tested for scrub typhus. Out of 471, 172 children were scrub typhus positive. Maximum number of positive cases were detected between the month of August and November. Fever was present in all patients. Nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, cough, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, rash, convulsion and jaundice were other presenting clinical features. Eschar was observed only in 2.91% cases.   Conclusion: Scrub typhus is to be suspected in every children present with unexplained fever. Early diagnosis and early initiation of specific therapy is crucial for favourable outcome.