Abstract
Background
Scrub typhus is a tropical fever caused by orrientia tsutsugamushi and is probably the most under-recognized of all the febrile illnesses leading to hospitalization, especially in India. Although the most common presenting symptoms are fever, myalgia, lymphadenopathy and rash, a significant percentage of patients also present with respiratory complaints.
Methods
December 2018 at a tertiary care center, in Delhi, India. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of respiratory involvement in patients with scrub typhus on the basis of radiological findings. Secondary objective was to compare the length of hospital stay, clinical presentation, and severity of illness as indicated by transaminitis, thrombocytopenia, inotropic requirement, and lactate levels. Also compared was the difference in mortality between the two groups.
Results
Pulmonary involvement was seen in 28.9% (22/76) patients which included varied radiological pictures. 5 patients required mechanical and 2 noninvasive ventilation. Eschar was seen in 44.7% out of which 20 had pulmonary involvement. Patients with pulmonary involvement had a significantly greater length of hospital stay (5.82 days vs. 2.56, P < 0.001), more severe transaminitis (P < 0.001), thrombocytopenia (P < 0.001), hyperlactatemia (P < 0.001), higher ionotropic requirement (P < 0.001) and mortality (P = 0.006).
Conclusion
Pulmonary involvement was seen in almost one-third of the patients with scrub typhus and was associated with higher morbidity and mortality. These patients were sicker, often required intensive care admissions, inotropic support, noninvasive and invasive mechanical ventilation and a significantly prolonged hospitalization. Chest radiographs should be a part of routine evaluation of all patients suspected to have scrub typhus. With such high pulmonary involvement, scrub typhus forms an important differential diagnosis in patients with lung infection residing in endemic areas and in those with a history of travel to such areas
Disclosures
All authors: No reported disclosures.
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