Three Cases of Scrub Typhus with Acute Epiglottitis / 감염과화학요법

ABSTRACT

Scrub typhus is an endemic rickettsial disease with annual seasonal outbreak in Korea and its incidence is increasing. Recently, cases of scrub typhus with severe complications, such as septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, myocarditis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and meningitis have been increasingly reported. Acute epiglottitis is the one of potentially life- threatening scrub typhus related complications. Its initial clinical manifestations are sore throat, dysphagia or dyspnea. Although 22-62% of scrub typhus patients complain of sore throat, the etiology and optimal therapy are not yet known. We experienced 3 cases of scrub typhus-associated acute epiglottitis which rapidly responded to short-term corticosteroid administration.