A Study on Scrub Typhus in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Scrub typhus is an acute, febrile illness caused by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. Humans are accidental hosts in this zoonotic disease. The epidemiological pattern of the reported cases of Scrub Typhus in the Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram during Jan 2004 to October 2005 was studied. A total of 114 patients with symptoms suggestive of scrub typhus were admitted in Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram during that period. Case series study was done by reviewing the medical records of patients with scrub typhus who had been treated there. Of all the IP cases reported, about 60% cases were from rural parts and about 55% of them were seen during the period August to January. It cannot be said for sure whether Scrub Typhus is a new comer to our state or was a previously undiagnosed entity. However, during the appropriate season, the triad of Fever, Lymph Node Enlargement and Eschar should alert the physician to consider a rickettsial cause. Keywords: Eschar, Rickettsiae, Trombiculid mite, Chigger