Scrub typhus: A prospective, observational study during an outbreak in Rajasthan, India.

BACKGROUND: Scrub typhus, a potentially fatal rickettsial infection, is common in India. It usually presents with acute febrile illness along with multi-organ involvement caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. As there was an outbreak of scrub typhus in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan and there is a paucity of data from this region, we studied this entity to describe the diverse epidemiological, clinico-radiological, laboratory parameters and outcome profile of patients with scrub typhus in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: In this descriptive study, we included all patients with an acute febrile illness diagnosed as scrub typhus by positive IgM antibodies against O. tsutsugamushi, over a period of 4 months (July to October 2014). All relevant data were recorded and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 66 (24 males/42 females) patients were enrolled. Fever was the most common presenting symptom (100%), and in 67% its duration was for 7-14 days. Other symptoms were breathlessness (66.7%), haemoptysis (63.6%), oliguria (51.5%) and altered mental status (39.4%). The pathognomonic features such as eschar (12%) and lymphadenopathy (18%) were not so common. The commonest radiological observation was consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Complications noted were respiratory (69.7%), renal (51.5%) and hepatic dysfunction (48.5%). The overall mortality rate was 21.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Scrub typhus has emerged as an important cause of febrile illness in the Hadoti region and can present with varying clinical manifestations with or without eschar. A high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and prompt intervention may help in reducing the mortality.

Add-on prednisolone in the management of cervical lymph node tuberculosis.

Studies defining role of systemic steroids in routine management of cervical lymph node tuberculosis (CLNTB) are too few and inconclusive. The present study was carried out to define the role of add-on prednisolone in the management of CLNTB. Patients of CLNTB were randomized into two groups. Group I patients received DOTS Category I treatment along with prednisolone 1mg/kg for first 4 weeks and then tapered down. Group II patients received DOTS Category I treatment along with placebo. Patients were kept under close follow up for 6 months. Response to therapy and adverse drug reactions, if any, were recorded. A total of 120 patients completed the study protocol. The two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, smoking, alcoholism, and clinical profile (p>0.5). At 2 months, 54 out of 60 patients in Group I showed symptom relief when compared with 44 out of 60 patients in Group II (p<0.001). Abscess, sinus, and/or appearance of new lymph node/s were noted in 3 and 13 patients in Group I and Group II, respectively (p<0.001). Complete resolution was seen in 57 patients in Group I when compared with only 40 patients of Group II and sequel in form of residual LN was noted in three patients of Group I when compared with 20 in Group II (p<0.001). Gastrointestinal side effects were reported by higher number of patients in Group I but skin rashes and joint pain were fewer when compared with Group II (p>0.05). All the adverse reactions were transient and amenable to symptomatic treatment.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis presenting as thoracic mass causing obstruction of the superior and inferior vena cava in an immunocompetent patient: a diagnostic dilemma.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a disease of immunocompromised patients, but its prevalence is increasing in immunocompetent persons. Patients usually present with non-specific symptoms, sometimes consistent with bronchopneumonia. We discuss the case of a 19-year-old boy who presented with constitutional respiratory symptoms along with signs of obstruction of the superior and inferior vena cava. A chest radiograph was suggestive of a thoracic mass raising suspicion of bronchogenic carcinoma/ benign mass, sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, but a diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis was established. The patient showed excellent clinico-radiological improvement with administration of voriconazole. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis may also present with atypical findings and should be considered in differentials when investigating a case even if the patient does not have a risk factor.