Is scrub typhus a life-threatening condition?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am extremely worried about my husband. He is 40 years old and has been suffering from a few symptoms. His high fever does not respond to typical medicines. He also has intense body aches and a weird dark eschar on his ankle where he thinks he was bitten by something. His lymph nodes are swollen, and he is experiencing severe headaches. The local doctor suggested it might be scrub typhus, but we need a more comprehensive understanding. He is getting weaker day by day, and his chills are becoming more pronounced. Can this be life-threatening?

Please help me.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Symptoms of scrub typhus usually begin within ten days after infection. Signs and symptoms include:

Fever and chills.
Headache.
Body aches and muscle pain.
A dark, scab-like region at the site of the chigger bite (also known as eschar).
Mental changes, ranging from confusion to coma.
Enlarged lymph nodes.
Rash.

If not treated appropriately, scrub typhus can be fatal and may lead to organ damage and severe bleeding.

The following are the common complications seen in scrub typhus patients.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): A severe complication that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Acute kidney injury (AKI).
Myocarditis: A complication that can be life-threatening.
Acute liver failure (ALF).
Encephalitis.
Pericarditis.
Cardiac arrhythmia.
Acute hearing loss.
Septic shock.
Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

Suggested blood tests:

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP): Elevated levels of ALP are common in scrub typhus patients.
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): Elevated levels of ALT are common in scrub typhus patients.
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): Elevated levels of AST are common in scrub typhus patients.

No vaccine is available to prevent scrub typhus. Reduce your risk of getting scrub typhus by avoiding contact with infected chiggers. When traveling to areas where scrub typhus is common, avoid areas with lots of vegetation and brush where chiggers may be found. Scrub typhus should be treated with the antibiotic Doxycycline. Doxycycline can be used in persons of any age. Antibiotics are most effective if given soon after symptoms begin.

People who are treated early with Doxycycline usually recover quickly. With these symptoms, Dengue can also be a Differential diagnosis that needs to be ruled out and a further line of treatment can be decided. If you notice any complications, kindly confirm that diagnosis is a must and that further treatment must be started. Scrub typhus and dengue co-infection are also seen which can be life-threatening if not tackled on time.

Feel free to follow up with any further questions or concerns.

I hope this information helps you.

Thank you.