Surgical manifestations of scrub typhus: A diagnostic dilemma.

ABSTRACT

Scrub typhus, a zoonosis caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a systemic febrile illness. The disease presents with diverse clinical manifestations, ranging from subclinical disease to multiorgan failure and fatal disease. It may rarely present as an acute abdomen which may lead to a diagnostic dilemma. We describe two serologically confirmed cases of scrub typhus presenting as acute abdomen—one mimicking acute appendicitis and the other acute cholecystitis, both managed non-operatively. A high index of suspicion, along with subtle indicators in the history and clinical examination help avoid unnecessary surgery in such cases.