Scrub typhus: combination therapy can save more lives.

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Health

Concept :

Recently, a team of researchers from Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and PGIMER Chandigarh found that an antibiotic combo is best for severe scrub typhus.

About Scrub typhus:

Scrub typhus is a life-threatening infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria which is a major public health threat in South and Southeast Asia.
It is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites).
The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash.
Scrub typhus should be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. Doxycycline can be used in persons of any age.
There is no vaccine available for this disease.
It is also known as bush typhus, Japanese river fever, and tsutsugamushi disease.
Scrub typhus is typically found in rural areas of the Asia-Pacific region, including parts of Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Australia. The disease is most common during the rainy season, when chiggers are more prevalent.

What is Typhus fever?

Typhus fevers are a group of diseases caused by bacteria that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus.
Epidemic typhus is caused due to Rickettsia prowazeki and spread by body lice.
Scrub typhusis caused due to Orientia tsutsugamushi and spread by chiggers.
Murine typhusis caused due to Rickettsia typhi spread by fleas.