Clinical Features, Laboratory Findings and Complications of Scrub Typhus in South Indian Children

Authors

  • Manjunath Vaddambal Gopalakrisna Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore
  • Hedda Suryaprakash Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore
  • G. Shankarappa Vijay Kumar Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore
  • Kalenahalli Jagadish Kumar Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore
  • Doreswamy Srinivasa Murthy Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v37i1.16202

Keywords:

Scrub typhus, Immune fluorescence antibody test, Children

Abstract

Introduction: Scrub typhus clinical features are non-specific and resemble other tropical infections like malaria, dengue and typhoid fever. Therefore appropriate gold standard laboratory tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of scrub typhus. Aim of this study was to determine the incidence, clinical features, laboratory data and complications of scrub typhus in South Indian Children.

Materials and Methods: Children with fever of more than seven days who were tested negative for common tropical infections were subjected to IgM-IFA for scrub typhus.

Results: Out of 857 children, 74 were eligible for IFA test. Out of these, 27(3.1%) tested positive for scrub typhus. Clinical features included hepatomegaly (96.3%), generalized lymphadenopathy (81.5%), splenomegaly (81.5%), hypotension (59.3%), rash (14.8%), eschar (7.4%), thrombocytopenia (66.7%), elevation of SGOT (85.2%) and SGPT (81.5%). Complications include hepatitis (14.8%), pneumonia (14.8%), myocarditis (14.8%) meningoencephalitis (3.7%) and MODS (3.7%).

Conclusion: Scrub typhus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a febrile child having hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia.  

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Author Biographies

Manjunath Vaddambal Gopalakrisna, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore

Associate Professor of Paediatrics

Hedda Suryaprakash, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore

Resident in Paediatrics

G. Shankarappa Vijay Kumar, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore

Professor of Microbiology

Kalenahalli Jagadish Kumar, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore

Professor of Paediatrics

Doreswamy Srinivasa Murthy, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore

Professor of Paediatrics

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Published

2017-10-04

How to Cite

Gopalakrisna, M. V., Suryaprakash, H., Kumar, G. S. V., Kumar, K. J., & Murthy, D. S. (2017). Clinical Features, Laboratory Findings and Complications of Scrub Typhus in South Indian Children. Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, 37(1), 21–24. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v37i1.16202

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Original Articles