Rural Populations Face Elevated Scrub Typhus Infection Risks: Research
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Synopsis
A recent study from CMC Vellore reveals that rural populations are at significant risk for scrub typhus infections, highlighting the need for better awareness and diagnostic resources to prevent severe outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Rural communities face high scrub typhus infection risks.
- Scrub typhus is often misdiagnosed despite its prevalence.
- 10% of the population in Tamil Nadu is infected annually.
- Symptoms include fever, headaches, and rashes.
- Awareness and better diagnostics are crucial for timely treatment.
New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) A recent study by researchers from the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore indicates that rural populations are highly susceptible to life-threatening scrub typhus infections. This finding was made public on Thursday.
Scrub typhus is a severe infection caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, which is part of the rickettsia family. The disease is transmitted to humans via bites from infected larval mites or chiggers.
Investigating 32,000 individuals in rural Tamil Nadu, the study reveals that scrub typhus represents a major yet often overlooked cause of hospitalizations due to fever.
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the research observed a significant prevalence of scrub typhus over a two-year period, with nearly 10 percent of the population infected each year.
Although many infections were asymptomatic, between 8 percent and 15 percent of those infected developed a fever that frequently necessitated hospitalization and intensive care due to severe illness.
Lead author Dr. Carol Devamani, MD in Community Medicine at CMC Vellore, stated, "Following Covid, scrub typhus emerged as the predominant cause of fever in our research, accounting for nearly 30 percent of fever hospitalizations."
"Despite the prevalence and treatability of scrub typhus, it is often disregarded as a potential cause when patients present with fever. While diagnostic tests are accessible in major hospitals, they remain unavailable in community settings," she added.
Common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and rash, typically manifesting around 10 days post-infection. The area surrounding chigger bites may also darken, aiding in diagnosis.
If untreated, severe cases of scrub typhus can result in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, meningitis, and kidney failure, which can be fatal.
Antibiotics such as doxycycline and azithromycin are effective in treating cases, although there is currently no vaccine available to prevent infection.
During the course of the study, five individuals succumbed to complications associated with scrub typhus.
The researchers emphasized that the under-reporting of fever cases presents a significant limitation to the study's findings.
"Our research underscores the urgent need to educate communities about the potential hazards of scrub typhus infection and to enhance diagnostic resources in the community to ensure timely treatment. This is vital to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and fatalities," Dr. Devamani concluded.
