Seroprevalence and clinical profile of scrub typhus in patients presenting with undifferentiated acute febrile illness in a tertiary care centre

Authors

  • Reena Anie Jose Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1773-1593
  • Hyma Jose Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala
  • Anjali Anne Jacob Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala
  • Pramod Thomas Professor of Biostatistics, Department of Community Medicine, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala
  • Renu Mathew Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala
  • Marina Thomas Professor, Department of Microbiology, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i4.33353

Keywords:

Cut-off, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Fever, Rash, Weil Felix Test

Abstract

Background: Scrub typhus (ST) is a common Rickettsial infection which has been increasingly reported from the various states of southern part of India.

Aims and Objective: With very few reports from Central Kerala, we aimed to study the seroprevalence of scrub typhus and its clinical profile.

Materials and Methods: Patients presenting with acute undifferentiated febrile illness and other symptoms and signs of Rickettsial infections during a period of two years were included in this prospective study. Serodiagnosis of ST was based on a positive Scrub typhus IgM Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and/or agglutination for OXK in Weil Felix test. The cut-off for ELISA was calculated. The clinical and laboratory details of the positive patients were obtained and bivariate analysis was performed.

Results: The cut-off for ST IgM ELISA was calculated and found to be 0.38. Of the 636 samples screened, 34 (5.3%) were positive for ST IgM ELISA. Out of the 34 positive samples, only 5 (0.8%) were positive by Weil Felix test. Most of the ST patients presented during the months of May to January. Rashes were observed in 8.8% of the ST patients and none had signs of eschar. The commonest clinical features included fever, myalgia (52.9%), nausea & vomiting (32.4%), headache (29.4%) and hepatosplenomegaly (29.4%). The commonest abnormal laboratory finding and complication observed were elevated serum transaminases (52.9%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (17.6%) respectively.

Conclusion: The seroprevalence of ST in Central Kerala was 5.3% using Weil Felix test and ST IgM ELISA.

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Published

2021-04-01

How to Cite

Jose, R. A., Jose, H., Jacob, A. A., Thomas, P., Mathew, R., & Thomas, M. (2021). Seroprevalence and clinical profile of scrub typhus in patients presenting with undifferentiated acute febrile illness in a tertiary care centre. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 12(4), 54–60. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i4.33353

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2021)

Section

Original Articles

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