Scrub typhus: risks, diagnostic issues, and management challenges

• Main Author: Prakash JAJ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2017-08-01
• Series: Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine
• Subjects: Scrub typhus Eschar Predictors Diagnosis; ELISA; PCR Co-infections Treatment
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/scrub-typhus-risks-diagnostic-issues-and-management-challenges-peer-reviewed-article-RRTM

John Antony Jude Prakash Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract: Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness in the “tsutsugamushi triangle”, transmitted by chiggers that can be treated effectively if detected early. Laboratory testing, including molecular and serological assays, is needed for confirming the diagnosis, especially in the absence of the pathognomonic eschar. In this review, factors that play a role in disease occurrence and clinical clues for diagnosis, in addition to risk factors contributing to disease severity, including mortality, are discussed in detail. Moreover, issues related to diagnostic assays, treatment, and mixed infections are also enumerated and described. Keywords: Orientia tsutsugamushi, disease severity, mortality predictors, diagnosis, coinfections, treatment