Clinical profile of scrub typhus in children at a tertiary care hospital in South India

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to study the demographic, clinicolaboratory profile and outcome of scrub typhus in affected children. Material and Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of children aged 1 month–16 years who were diagnosed with scrub typhus between January 2014 and November 2021, admitted to the paediatric ward and intensive care unit of our hospital. Results: A total of 15 patients were included in the study, of which 60% were male and 40% were female. Among the study population, 66.7% of children were aged above 10 years. The cases were seen mainly in the months of October–November. Fever was present in all children. Other symptoms noted were cough (66.7%), chills and rigours (53.3%), headache (53.3%), abdominal pain (40%) and vomiting (33.3%) and rarely altered sensorium. The diagnostic features such as lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly were found in 40 and 46.7% of patients, respectively. Laboratory findings noted were elevated CRP (66.7%) and deranged liver enzymes (93.3%). Scrub typhus IgM, Weil-Felix and febrile agglutination test were positive in 33.3%, 53.3% and 26.7% of cases, respectively. Pneumonia (40%), shock (6.7%) and myocarditis (6.7%) were the common complications present in these children. Conclusion: Even in the absence of eschar, the diagnosis of scrub typhus should be strongly considered in any febrile child with lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopaenia and liver dysfunction.