Scrub Typhus locally known as ‘chili pani” has recently caused a lot of deaths in India, mostly in southern India. Over 80 people in Bengal got infected by Scrub Typhus in 2022
A 15-year-old girl died of Scrub Typhus at Parippally Medical College Hospital Kerala on Wednesday evening. Aswathy, daughter of Shaji Das and Anitha, of Panthu Vilayil Veedu at Varkala, was admitted to the medical college on June 3. She developed fever and vomiting on June 1st. On 3rd June she collapsed while having food and was rushed to the hospital.
Aswathy was unconscious when she was brought here on June 3 and her heart was infected. She was shifted to the ventilator immediately and later to the ICU. In the meantime, she tested positive for scrub typhus. Dr. Santhosh GS, Superintendent of Parippally Medical College Hospital said that the disease does not spread from one person to another.
All about Scrub Typhus
Scrub Typhus is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (bacteria) through bites of larval mites of the family trombiculid, also called Chiggers. Its symptoms are fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash. Its occurrence is common in rural areas of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, India, and Northern Australia. Its treatment is mainly antibiotics and no vaccine is available.
A squad, headed by a district medical officer, visited Parippally Medical College and Cherunniyoor on Thursday. Earlier, Cherunniyoor’s medical officer visited the place and collected preliminary information. The minister said measures have been taken to destroy the fleas that spread the infection. People have been urged to be aware to resist the infection.
Scrub typhus becomes life-threatening when the diagnosis is delayed
The symptoms of Scrub Typhus are similar to those of many other diseases and can be difficult to distinguish. The signs and symptoms of the disease appear within the 10 days of being bitten or infected by the insect. Some of the symptoms on behalf of the CDC are a black spot on the site of the bite and mental changes like a coma. It also leads to an increase in the size of lymph nodes and serious cases there may be organ failure and bleeding. If it is diagnosed late and symptoms are left untreated it can lead to death.
If you have such symptoms, consult a doctor and tell the doctor if you go to a place where there is an outbreak of this disease. A blood test is usually done. There are other tests according to the symptoms such as skin biopsy, western blot, immunofluorescence, etc.
Scrub Typhus: the treatment
Scrub Typhus should be treated with doxycycline antibiotics. Doxycycline can be given to people of any age. The sooner antibiotics are given after the symptoms appear, the better the results will be obtained. Those who are treated with the application of doxycycline recover quickly. So if the above symptoms occur, contact the doctor immediately.
Scrub typhus: The Prevention
It is always better to prevent the disease than to cure it by attacking the resistance. Here are a few prevention tips.
- It is necessary to stop visiting the places where there is a possibility of contracting the disease. Avoid places with thick vegetation in places where there is a spread of the disease.
- Keep the pesticide with you, use it according to the instructions stated on its label.
