Madhusmita Bal1, Mahesh Prasad Mohanta2, Suneeta Sahu3, Bhagirathi Dwibedi4, Sanghamitra Pati1, Manoranjan Ranjit5. 1. ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. 2. Naba Diganta Primary Care Hospital, Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. 3. Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. 4. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. 5. ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Correspondence to: Dr Manoranjan Ranjit, Scientist-F, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar 751 023, Odisha. ranjit62@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution and clinical profile of scrub typhus infection among children with acute febrile illness in Odisha. METHODS: Children (<15 y) presenting with acute fever (>5 days) in 4 agro-climatic zones from June to November 2017 were evaluated. Patients were screened for malaria, leptospira, dengue, typhoid and scrub typhus. Scrub typhus was confirmed by IgM ELISA and PCR. RESULTS: Out of 413 cases examined, 48.7% were positive for scrub typhus, and 5.5% of them developed systemic complications. Eschar was found in 17.9% of cases. Five days treatment of Doxycycline and/or Azithromycin was clinically effective against scrub typhus. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights that scrub typhus is one of the causes of high morbidity in children during rainy months in Odisha.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution and clinical profile of scrub typhus infection among children with acute febrile illness in Odisha. METHODS:Children (<15 y) presenting with acute fever (>5 days) in 4 agro-climatic zones from June to November 2017 were evaluated. Patients were screened for malaria, leptospira, dengue, typhoid and scrub typhus. Scrub typhus was confirmed by IgM ELISA and PCR. RESULTS: Out of 413 cases examined, 48.7% were positive for scrub typhus, and 5.5% of them developed systemic complications. Eschar was found in 17.9% of cases. Five days treatment of Doxycycline and/or Azithromycin was clinically effective against scrub typhus. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights that scrub typhus is one of the causes of high morbidity in children during rainy months in Odisha.
Authors: Kartika Saraswati; Brittany J Maguire; Alistair R D McLean; Sauman Singh-Phulgenda; Roland C Ngu; Paul N Newton; Nicholas P J Day; Philippe J Guérin Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2021-10-14