New Mystery Infection Scrub Typhus Cases Reported in India

The medical teams took samples from people in several districts of India after reports of infection from the area. These samples were later found to be infected with scrub typhus.

More than a dozen of reported cases of a mystery fever scrub typhus, are reported in Mathura, Jaipur, and Guwahati districts.

Scrub typhus, also called bush typhus, is an infectious disease that is caused by the parasite Orientia tsutsugamushi, a mite-borne bacterium, and spreads in the human body after they are bitten by infected chiggers (larval mites) found in mice.

Scrub Typhus - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Complications, Risk Factors
Scrub typhus is a bacterial disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is spread to humans by the bites of larvae called chiggers.

‘Cases of scrub typhus, a mite-borne bacterial infectious disease have been increasing in India.’

Children and adults going out to play in gardens barefoot are more susceptible to the disease, which is caused by the bite of a mite that is commonly found in grass and bushes.

The bacterial disease shares some of its symptoms with Chikungunya and often results in the death of the person infected. Patients infected with the disease have complained about having breathing problems, jaundice, vomiting, nausea, joint pain or shivering.

Lumps have been recorded to develop on parts of the body such as neck, under-arms and hips in severe cases. The area of the insect bite on the skin also turns red.

Insect Bite Disease Scrub Typhus Claims 24 Lives in Himachal
Scrub Typhus is a disease caused by the bite of an infected mite found in areas with heavy scrub vegetation.

Scrub typhus can be treated if the infected gets immediate medical care. However, most of the scrub patients are found self-medicating at home and seeking medical help only after their condition has worsened.

According to the CDC, no vaccine is available to prevent scrub typhus. It suggested that the risk of contracting the infection is lowered by avoiding contact with infected chiggers.

Scrub Typhus: Death Toll Rises to 5 in Nagpur
Scrub Typhus kills five people in Nagpur. Out of the 13 patients that were in the hospital, only eight have survived of which four are critical.

When travelling to regions where scrub typhus is common, people should avoid areas with lots of vegetation and brush where chiggers may be found. For precautionary measures, health experts have advised the spraying of permethrin and benzyl benzoate on clothes and bedding.

Apart from India, cases of scrub typhus have been reported from rural areas of Indonesia, China, Japan and northern Australia.

Natural Antibiotics to Fight Bacterial Infections
Fighting infections the natural way and preventing them is always more effective than consuming medicines and antibiotics to treat them.

Tests in the laboratory are effective in diagnosis of scrub typhus. Doxycycline, an antibiotic drug, is effective in treatment of scrub typhus. The drug has been widely used for COVID-19 treatment in asymptomatic and mild cases.

Source-Medindia