DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i07.056

Pages: 2781-2790

Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness and now one of the important causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in paediatric age group. It generally presented with fever along with nonspecific symptoms without any obvious clinical findings. Often you may get eschar which is due to bite of the mite give a strong support for diagnosis but its absence does not rule out scrub typhus. Sometimes it may be complicated with multi organ dysfunction leading to increased morbidity and mortality. To know the incidence, clinical profile and outcome of the scrub typhus in paediatric age group. The study was conducted in the department of paediatrics, M.K.C.G medical college, from September 2015 to August 2016. Total 44 cases were taken in the basis of fever along with presence of eschar. Weil Felix test positive or negative and scrub typhus IgM positive cases were taken. Other causes of prolonged fever were excluded after proper examination and laboratory evaluation. In the present study total 44 children were taken among them 1-5 years age group were most prevalent and male: female ratio was 1.3:1. Fever was the most presenting complaints (100%), other symptoms were vomiting (43.2%), rashes (38.2%), abdominal pain (31.8%), respiratory difficulty (15.9%) and convulsion (9.1%). On examination eschar was present 61.4%, pallor 59.1%, generalised lymphadenopathy 52.3%, hepatomegaly 47.2% and splenomegaly 43%. Bronchopneumonia was the most common (15.9%) followed by meningoencephalitis (13.6%). Other complications were acute renal failure (11.4%), multi organ dysfunction (9.1%), shock (6.8%) and myocarditis (4.5%). Scrub typhus is now a common febrile illness among children.Any child with prolonged fever without any focus always keep scrub typhus in your mind and look for eschar which may clinch your diagnosis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment will definitely reduce morbidity and mortality in children.