Characteristics of Pediatric Scrub Typhus during an Outbreak in the North Eastern Region of India: Peculiarities in Clinical Presentation, Laboratory Findings and Complications

To identify and report a recent outbreak of scrub typhus cases recorded from October 2009 to January 2010 in the state of Meghalaya, India.

The case sheets of all the children were retrieved and reviewed retrospectively. Twenty four (24) patients, who were both clinically and serologically confirmed as scrub typhus cases were included in the study.

Fever for more than 1 wk duration was the most common manifestation (100%) followed by splenomegaly (45.8%), eschar (41.7%), cough (37.5%), hepatomegaly (33.3%), headache and body ache (25%), pain abdomen (25%), vomiting (20.8%), altered sensorium (16.6%), seizures (12.5%) lymphadenopathy (12.5%), and loose stools (8.3%). Meningoencephalitis was the most common complication (29.2%) followed by pneumonia (16.3%) and subconjunctival hemorrhage (8.3%).Cortical blindness, septic shock, peritonitis, myocarditis with CCF, pancytopenia, acute renal failure, coagulopathy, prolonged oxygen dependency and urinary tract infection (UTI) were found in one of each case. Hyponatremia (66.7%), elevated liver enzymes without significant rise of bilirubin (58.3%), hypoalbuminemia (52.2%) and thrombocytopenia (26%) were the other significant laboratory findings. Patients were treated with chloramphenicol, doxycycline and azithromycin. There was no mortality.

This is the first outbreak report from the north eastern region of India with varied clinical presentations, laboratory investigations and complications. Weil Felix test still remains fruitful for diagnosing this disease in a resource limited set up.