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Rickettsioses in Children - A Review

Ashwani K Sood1, Amit Sachdeva2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India. doc.aksood@gmail.com.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|March 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Scrub typhus, a severe rickettsial disease, is underdiagnosed in India. Early diagnosis and treatment of scrub typhus are crucial to prevent high mortality and organ dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • * Infectious Diseases
  • * Public Health
  • * Microbiology

Background:

  • * Rickettsial diseases, caused by Gram-negative bacteria, are emerging global health threats.
  • * Scrub typhus (ST), murine flea-borne typhus, and Indian tick typhus are frequently reported.
  • * Scrub typhus is a significant and underdiagnosed public health issue in India.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and treatment of scrub typhus.
  • * To highlight the challenges in diagnosing scrub typhus due to its variable and non-specific presentation.
  • * To emphasize the need for increased clinical suspicion and testing for scrub typhus.

Main Methods:

  • * Literature review of rickettsial diseases, with a focus on scrub typhus.
  • * Analysis of epidemiological trends, clinical presentations, and diagnostic challenges.
  • * Summary of current treatment guidelines and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • * Rickettsial infections, particularly scrub typhus, are often difficult to diagnose clinically.
  • * Delayed diagnosis and treatment of scrub typhus can lead to high fatality rates (30-45%) and multiple organ dysfunction.
  • * Scrub typhus is a vastly underdiagnosed entity in India, despite its public health significance.

Conclusions:

  • * Early clinical suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and timely antimicrobial therapy are essential for managing rickettsial diseases like scrub typhus.
  • * Increased awareness and diagnostic testing for scrub typhus among clinicians are necessary.
  • * Further research is needed to bridge the knowledge gap regarding rickettsioses and improve diagnostic accuracy.
Keywords:
IgM ELISARickettiosisScrub typhus

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