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Acute Cholecystitis in Patients with Scrub Typhus
Hyun Lee1, Misuk Ji2, Jeong-Hwan Hwang3
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Journal of Korean Medical Science
|November 6, 2015
Summary
Scrub typhus can cause acute cholecystitis, especially in older adults. This rare complication may lead to longer hospital stays and increased costs for patients with scrub typhus.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Scrub typhus, a zoonotic disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, can present with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Acute cholecystitis is an uncommon but serious complication of scrub typhus.
- Understanding the clinical course and risk factors for acute cholecystitis in scrub typhus is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- A study identified acute cholecystitis as a rare complication in patients with scrub typhus.
- The incidence of acute cholecystitis was notably higher in patients over 60 years old (66.7%).
- Typical scrub typhus signs like rash and eschar may appear after abdominal pain onset.
Findings:
- Propensity score matching revealed a trend towards longer hospital stays in scrub typhus patients who developed acute cholecystitis.
- Patients with scrub typhus and acute cholecystitis incurred higher medical costs compared to those without cholecystitis.
- The clinical course of acute cholecystitis secondary to scrub typhus requires further detailed description.
Implications:
- Scrub typhus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, particularly in endemic regions.
- Early recognition of scrub typhus, even with atypical presentations, is vital for preventing complications like acute cholecystitis.
- This finding highlights the importance of considering infectious etiologies in abdominal emergencies, especially in specific geographic areas.
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