Scrub Typhus:Clinicalprofile, Laboratory Findings and Outcome in Hospitalized Children, from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India

Abstract

Scrub typhus is a common cause of acute undifferentiated fever in children. Early detection and prompt treatment help reduce morbidity and mortality. Methods: This study included all children who visited our pediatric outpatient clinic between January 2017 and February 2020, who were clinically suspected of having typhoid peeling and who were treated with positive serum IgM by ELISA. A total of 166 cases were registered during the study period. Of these, 110 are male and 56 female. The average age of beneficiaries was seven years and the youngest was only five months old. Most of these patients were from rural areas (86%). About two-thirds (77%) of the study group had open defecation. The maximum number of cases (65; 78.3%) was reported during the rainy season (between September and January). Persistent fever (100%), gastrointestinal symptoms (76%) such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, lymphadenopathy (96%) and hepatosplenomegaly (61%) are common signs and symptoms of typhus. Only six patients suffered from serious illness. Diagnosis is based on positive serum IgM for typhoid peeling. All IgM patients were positive. Of these 166 patients, ulcers were seen in 100 (60%) patients. Weil Felix's test was positive in 30 of the 66 cases tested. Twelve children were coinfected with 4 cases of malaria and four cases of dengue fever. Conclusion: Typhus is one of the most common causes of acute undifferentiated fever in children. High index of clinical suspicion and scabies monitoring facilitate early diagnosis of typhoid peeling.