it is a disease upcoming threat to India also.so we shoould know some points about this disease.It is preventive rather than curative disease.

1. SCRUB TYPHUS
Dr Sourav Kumar Pattanayak
JR ,R G Kar Medical College

2. • Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a
disease caused by a bacteria, called Orientia
tsutsugamushi. Scrub typhus spreads to
people through bites of infected chiggers
(larval mites).

3. • MODE OF TRANSMISSION
By the infected larval mites.The transmission
cycle may be following

4. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMPS
Symptoms of scrub typhus usually begin within 10
days of being bitten. Signs and symptoms may include
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Body aches and muscle pain
• A dark, scab-like region at the site of the chigger bite
(also known as eschar)

5. continued
• Mental changes, ranging from confusion to coma
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Rash
• People with severe illness may develop organ failure
and bleeding, which can be fatal if left untreated.
• Five to eight days after the onset of fever, a macular or
maculopapular rash may appear on the trunk and later
extend to the arms and the legs in a small proportion
of patients Complications of scrub typhus infection
include pneumonia, acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS) like picture, myocarditis,
encephalitis, hepatitis, DIC, acute kidney injury, acute
pancreatitis, transient adrenal insufficiency etc.

6. DIAGNOSIS
The mainstay in scrub-typhus diagnostics
remains serology.
• The oldest test in current use is the Weil–Felix
OX-K agglutination reaction, which is
inexpensive, easy to perform.
• . The indirect fluorescent antibody(IFA) test is
more sensitive, and results are available in a
couple of hours; however, the test is more
expensive.

7. TREATMENT
Scrub typhus should be treated with the
antibiotic doxycycline. Doxycycline can be used
in persons of any age
PREVENTION
• No vaccine is available to prevent scrub
typhus.
• Reduce your risk of getting scrub typhus by
avoiding contact with infected chiggers.
• When traveling to areas where scrub typhus is
common, avoid areas with lots of vegetation
and brush where chiggers may be found.

8. Continued,
• If you will be spending time outdoors:
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered
insect repellentsexternal icon containing DEET or other
active ingredients registered for use against chiggers,
on exposed skin and clothing.
• If you have a baby or child:
– Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs, or
cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
– Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, or
mouth or on cuts or irritated skin.
– Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then
apply to child’s face.
– Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase
permethrin-treated items.