To Study the Clinical Spectrum and Prognostic Factors of Scrub Typhus Fever In a Tertiary Care Centre in Kumoun Region of Uttrakhand.

ABSTRACT

Background: Scrub typhus is caused by Orentia (formerly Rickettsia) tsutsugamushi. It is an infectious disease of variable severity .Scrub typhus has a wide geographical distribution. Scrub typhus is grossly under diagnosed in India due to its nonspecific clinical presentation, limited awareness and low index of suspicion. Methods: This study was a cross sectional observational study conducted in Department of Medicine Government Medical College, Haldwani .The duration of this study was two years i.e. from November 2013 to October 2015 and 103 patients included in study. Results: 36 patients were found to be scrub typhus positive. It was commonly seen in males in the age group of 20-30 years. Besides fever, cough, myalgia and headache were the common presenting symptoms. Scrub typhus was seen most commonly in farm worker in our study. Most common complication was hepatitis followed by multiorgan dysfunction. In our study, out of 36 positive patients, 5 (13.8%) patients died and 31 patients ultimately recovered completely without any complication whatsoever. Conclusion: Scrub typhus is not a uncommon disease in India more so in hilly areas. So high index of suspicion should be there while dealing a patient of fever in these regions.