Scrub Typhus: A Prospective Study of 76 Cases

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Orientia tsutsugamushi spreads to the entire body through the blood and lymphatics, and it induces vasculitis that results in the patients manifesting symptoms of systemic organ involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the clinical manifestations and the change of the laboratory results after instituting treatment for scrub typhus. RESULTS: Most patients presented with fever (100%), malaise (96.1%) and thirst (96.1%). It was remarkable that most patients presented with severe thirst, except for 3 healthy, young patients. This thirst was persistent even after the resolution of fever. The renal and hepatic dysfunction were reversible after the administration of appropriate antibiotics. For the blood testing, it was deteded that the CRP, and LDH were elevated in most patients (95.9% and 100% respectively). DIC could be diagnosed in 95.5% of the patients at the time of admission CONCLUSION: Most patients presented with fever, malaise and severe thirst, and the renal and hepatic dysfunction were reversible after the administration of appropriate antibiotics. DIC was observed in most of our patients, but hemorrhage and infarction were not present. CRP showed a rapid improvement, nonetheless, the LDH and DIC test results improved slowly.