Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: February | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 179-182
A Prospective Analysis of Seroprevalence and Demographic Profile of Scrub Typhus in a Tertiary Care Hospital of South Eastern Assam
Debadatta Dhar1, Kabita Choudhury2
1Associate Professor of Microbiology, Silchar medical College & Hospital, Silchar
2Demonstrator, NRS Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata
Corresponding Author: Debadatta Dhar
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Scrub typhus is a febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsutgamushi which is transmitted by the larval stages of trombiculid mites. It is a Rickettsial disease and considered some of the most covert emerging and re-emerging diseases and being increasingly recognized in India. This study is being undertaken to know the sero-prevalence among clinically suspected cases of Scrub typhus and its association with demographic patterns.
Methods: A prospective cross sectional hospital based study was carried out on consecutive non repetitive clinically suspected cases of Scrub typhus and acute undifferentiated febrile illness suspected of Scrub Typhus and tested for Scrub typhus IgM antibodies by ELISA method. A total of 70 serum samples were analysed and their results recorded and their demographic characteristics studied.
Results: Out of the 70 serum samples analysed, 14 samples had their OD value above the cutoff value of 0.5. The prevalence was hence found to be 20%. The presenting features of the patients were pyrexia, headache, nausea vomiting, abdominal pain, cough, myalgia, altered sensorium. One of the patients presented with eschar. Mean age was found to be 20-29 years(21% of total positive). There was female preponderance over males. The patients belonged to rural population.
Conclusion: The non specific symptoms make diagnosis of Scrub typhus difficult. Therefore the study concludes that it is recommended to include it is the differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness in this region
Keywords: Scrub typhus, seroprevalence, demographic profile
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