Scrub typhus complicating acute respiratory distress syndrome: a report of two cases

Scrub typhus is a zoonotic disease, caused by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, in which humans are accidental hosts. Although it is an acute febrile illness, severe complications of this disease are very rare since the introduction of specific antibiotic therapy. The authors report two cases of scrub typhus complicating acute respiratory distress syndrome. The first case progressed to multiple organ failure, and the patient expired. In the second case, the patient recovered and was discharged. These two cases were proved to be scrub typhus by their travel history or their having lived in endemic area, clinical manifestations, an eschar and indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. For a good prognosis, early diagnosis and early treatment of this disease are important.