Splenic infarct due to scrub typhus

Selvin Sundar Raj1, Adhiti Krishnamoorthy1, Manjeera Jagannati1

  • 1Department of General Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Insights

Scrub typhus, a mite-borne illness, can cause fatal organ damage. This case highlights rare splenic involvement, presenting as a splenic infarct in a patient with fever and abdominal pain.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pathology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Scrub typhus is a significant infectious disease transmitted by mites, known for potential multi-organ involvement and fatality.
  • Abdominal manifestations like hepatitis, gastric ulcerations, and pancreatitis are documented, stemming from disseminated vasculitis.

Observation:

  • Splenic involvement in scrub typhus is exceptionally rare, with limited documentation primarily from autopsy studies.
  • A 50-year-old female patient presented with fever and characteristic left upper quadrant abdominal pain.

Findings:

  • The patient's symptoms were attributed to a splenic infarct, a rare complication of scrub typhus.
  • This case underscores the potential for vascular complications in the spleen due to scrub typhus vasculitis.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering scrub typhus in the differential diagnosis of splenic infarcts, especially in endemic areas.
  • Suggests that non-autopsy clinical diagnosis of splenic involvement in scrub typhus is possible.
  • Further research into the pathogenesis of splenic involvement in scrub typhus is warranted.

Related Concept Videos

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
1.0K
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis01:25

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...
919
Pulmonary Tuberculosis III01:31

Pulmonary Tuberculosis III

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
1.7K
Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:29

Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

A hemorrhagic stroke develops when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to escape into the surrounding brain tissue, as in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or into the subarachnoid space, as in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because the skull is a rigid compartment, the sudden presence of extravascular blood rapidly increases intracranial pressure and compresses adjacent neural structures, leading to immediate tissue injury and impaired cerebral perfusion.Mass Effect and Primary...
16
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:29

Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

Diagnosing Pulmonary EmbolismDiagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) involves clinical assessment and advanced imaging tests. The preferred diagnostic tool is the spiral (helical) CT scan or CT angiography (CTA), which uses intravenous contrast media to visualize the pulmonary vasculature and identify emboli.A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan is an alternative for patients unable to receive contrast media. This scan includes both perfusion and ventilation scanning. Perfusion scanning involves...
746
Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction01:17

Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction

A hemorrhagic stroke is an acute neurological event that occurs when a weakened cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to accumulate within or around the brain. The sudden release of blood forms a focal hematoma that increases intracranial pressure, displaces neural tissue, and can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid pathways. These effects may be compounded by intraventricular extension of the hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or compression of adjacent structures, all of which contribute to...
18