Trombiculidae distribution associated to tsutsugamushi in Quang Ninh province

ABSTRACT

From 2000 to 2002, 449 tsutsugamushi patients were admitted to Uong Bi Hospital of Quang Ninh province. The disease occurred mainly in Uong Bi town, Dong Trieu district, Yen Hung district, and Cam Pha town. It occurred sporadically during the year but more frequently between May and Octorber. 14 species of Trombiculidae were found to parasitize in mice in almost all surveyed sites, especially in the places with many more tsutsugamushi patients. The main clinical signs were biting spots 94.2%, fever 100%, peripheral glands 98.7%, and rash 52.2%. Three effective regimes in treatment of tsutsugamushi were (1) chloramphenicol 30-50mg/kg/24 hours x 5-7 days; (2) tetracycline 30-40mg/kg/24 hours x 5-7 days; and (3) doxycycline 4mg/kg/24 hours x 3-5 days