18Sep 2017

OUTBREAK OF SCRUB TYPHUS IN PYREXIA OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN DURING COOLER MONTHS IN GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, SOUTH INDIA.

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
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Scrub typhus is a Rickettsial infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted by bite of the chigger of a mite Trombidium deliense. It is an acute febrile illness and Zoonotic disease endemic in the South East Asian countries and Western pacific region but less common known cause of PUO in India. Treatment is simple with Doxycycline and Azithromycin being drugs of choice and delay in diagnosis can be fatal. A total of 216 patients attending Medical OP with PUO at GGH, Guntur, from September 2013 to February 2014 were considered for the study. Suspected cases with Eschar (58) were screened for IgM antibodies to Orientia tsutsugamushi by Weil-Felix and Rapid Immunochromatographic method and positive for either of these tests were further confirmed by ELISA. They were also screened for Malaria, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, HIV and Hepatitis B infections. Scrub typhus IgM antibodies were positive in 26(44.8%) by both Weil-Felix and ELISA, 56(96.5%) cases were positive and 2 negative with Immunochromatographic assay and 57(98.3%) were positive with ELISA. Among 58 screened positive cases, 36(62.69%) were males and 22(37.9%) females. Scrub typhus positivity was higher in males than females. The lesion eschar was present in 56(96.5%) cases. The laboratory parameters were abnormal in most of the patients as evident by thrombocytopenia (82.7%), deranged liver functions 72.4% and renal functions 24.1%. Scrub typhus is prevalent but an under diagnosed disease in India and early diagnosis and administration of antibiotics will prevent the complications and mortality.

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[Dr. Y. Umarani, *Dr. D. Sarada, Dr. Jyothi P, Dr. E. Vandana, Dr. R. Suma Kalyani and Dr. M. Rajarajeswari. (2017); OUTBREAK OF SCRUB TYPHUS IN PYREXIA OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN DURING COOLER MONTHS IN GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, SOUTH INDIA. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Sep). 615-621] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

Dr. D. Sarada
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/5368      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/5368

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