Scrub Typhus Co-infection in an Adolescent Girl with Varicella
Anandhi Chandramohan1, Soma Venkatesh, Gunasekaran Dhandapany
1Departments of Pediatrics and *Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pillaiyarkuppam, Puducherry, India. Correspondence: Dr V Soma, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, MGMCRI, Pillaiyarkuppam, Puducherry 607 402, India. drsomavenky@gmail.com.
Background:
Co-infections with scrub typhus have been described quite frequently in adults but less frequently in children.
Case Characteristics:
An adolescent girl with varicella infection who had persistent fever. Associated clinical features like pain abdomen, vomiting, and features of third space losses made us suspect a co-infection. IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA in acute and convalescent serum were suggestive of scrub typhus.
Outcome:
She recovered following a course of oral doxycycline.
Message:
In unexplained prolonged fever or atypical clinical manifestations not explainable by the primary disease process, co-infection needs to be considered.
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