Can scrub typhus worsen the symptoms of MS?

Question

Hello doctor,

My brother has MS and he has been on treatment for years. Three weeks ago, he got scrub typhus after a trip to the village and was in the hospital for fever and infection. He is home now but his MS symptoms are worse like more weakness in his legs and more pain than before. Did the typhus have made his MS worse? He is still on medications for his MS, but could the antibiotics for typhus have made it react badly? Also how long does it take to recover fully from scrub typhus? What should we watch out for?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

In MS (multiple sclerosis) patients, the immune system is dysregulated. Scrub typhus complicates MS and patients can have severe complications mainly neurological and exacerbate the existing neurological symptoms. Hence your brother is facing more pain and weakness.

For Scrub typhus, Doxycycline is the drug of choice which controls the disease outcome very well. Starting Doxycycline at the earliest definitely has a good outcome. It does not make MS symptoms worse.
Scrub typhus generally recovers within seven to ten days. Considering MS with scrub typhus, it will take time for recovery, you can expect a month for complete recovery.
Danger signs- seizure, persistent high-grade fever, neck stiffness, headaches, and altered mental status all could be signs of serious nervous system involvement. If you notice any of these signs, consult your physician.

I hope this has helped you.

Please feel free to reach out to me again if you have further queries.

Thank you.