Clinical Profile and Complications of Scrub Typhus: Hospital-Based Study in Sub-Himalayan Region.

BACKGROUND: Scrub typhus is a documented disease in Himachal Pradesh, but there have been no clinico-epidemiological studies in this area. The present study is done with IgM ELISA as a diagnostic test which has higher sensitivity and specificity as most of previous studies had used Weil Felix test as a diagnostic test.

METHODOLOGY: This was a prospective observational study. All the patients more than 18 years of age with positive IgM ELISA for scrub typhus with or without eschar were included. The clinical profile was observed. IgM scrub typhus was done by kit method manufactured by InBios International, Inc.

RESULTS: Total 330 patients were observed. Maximum patients were observed in August, September, and October. Fever was the most common presenting complaint. Eschar was present in 40.61% patients. Complications were seen in 71.2 %.

CONCLUSIONS: The general physicians should be sensitized for the early diagnosis to reduce mortality.