Scrub Typhus with Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome and Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report

Scrub typhus is a mite-borne infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a gram-negative intracellular bacterium. It is a severe public health problem that affects mainly Asia-Pacific areas. Scrub typhus threatens one billion people and causes illness worldwide each year. Approximately one-third of the cases may suffer from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) during the disease course. Thrombocytopenia is another critical clinical manifestation of scrub typhus, and thrombocytopenia is one of the causes of MODS. Scrub typhus is rare and hard to diagnose and treat. Given the close similarity in the clinical presentation of several tropical illnesses, a meticulous history and detailed physical examination need to be emphasized. In this study, we reported a case of scrub typhus with thrombocytopenia and MODS, which is only the third case worldwide.