Scrub Typhus, also known as Bush Typhus, is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected chiggers (larvae mites). It is a rickettsial disease, said Dr. M. Sai Sunil Kishore, Head, Department of Women & Child Neonatology & Pediatrics, Medicover Hospitals.
Scrub Typhus usually occurs more frequently in people living in crowded, unsanitary conditions. The disease is also seen in people living in cold mountainous areas. In the last 3 months, we have treated 11 children with scrub typhus. Their ages ranged from 1 to 8 years. Most of them presented with symptoms like fever, chills, rash, body aches, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain. Most children developed a rash around the 5th day of fever. Some who presented late, after 1 week of fever onset, developed complications such as thrombocytopenia (low platelets in the blood), bleeding manifestations, pneumonia, and myocarditis. They required platelet transfusions and ventilator support. Scrub typhus should be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. Doxycycline can be used in people of any age. Depending on the patient's clinical condition, doxycycline should be given intravenously (IV) or orally (oral). Antibiotics are most effective when given as soon as symptoms begin. With treatment, defervescence usually begins within 36 hours. Recovery is rapid and without complications. People who are treated early with doxycycline usually recover quickly. It has been shown that the case fatality rate of scrub typhus can reach 30% or more if proper treatment is not provided.
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