Clinical Spectrum and Outcome of Scrub Typhus Patients in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Western Maharashtra

Abstract

Introduction: Acute febrile illness (AFI) is the most common presenting complaint in the emergency and outpatient clinics in developing countries. Scrub typhus is currently one of the most covert re-emerging infections and it is one of the commonly occurring rickettsial diseases in India. Objectives: To determine the clinical profile and outcome of scrub typhus patients admitted at a tertiary care centre of western Maharashtra for treatment. Material and Method: Present descriptive cross sectional study conducted over period of three years from October 2019 to October 2022. Study commenced after obtaining Institutional Ethical Permission (IEC). Clinically suspected patients undergone Weil-Fliex test followed by IgM ELISA for confirmation of diagnosis. Total 148 patients were included as inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Out of 148 patients 58.10% (86) and 41.89% (62) were male and female respectively. The commonest age group of patients was 21 to 30 years. Fever was the most common (81.75%) symptom and eschar (skin lesion) was seen in 16.21% (24) patients. Conclusion: Scrub typhus is an important cause of undifferentiated acute febrile illness should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown. Adequate knowledge about demographic and clinical profile scrub typhus helps in early diagnosis.