Scrub typhus during pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

ABSTRACT

Scrub typhus is a rickettsial disease that is uncommon during pregnancy. We report a case of a 33-year-old woman, G1P0, 29 weeks pregnancy who presented to hospital with high fever, chill and headache for two weeks. Her diagnosis of scrub typhus was confirmed by serum immunofluorescent assay. She was successfully treated with chloramphenicol, but preterm delivery occurred. Her infant died from respiratory distress syndrome. No vertical transmission was demonstrated in this case. Scrub typhus should be listed in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness in pregnant women, who either live in, or return from, endemic areas. Chloramphenicol can be used safely during pregnancy if it is not circulating at the time of delivery.