Scrub Typhus Leading to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, Assam, India

Abstract

To determine the contribution of Orientia tsutsugamushi, the agent of scrub typhus, as a cause of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Assam, India, we conducted a retrospective study of hospital patients with symptoms of AES during 2013–2015. Our findings suggest that O. tsutsugamushi infection leads to AES and the resulting illness and death.

Analysis of outcome of acute encephalitis syndrome after inclusion of coverage against scrub typhus

“…One of the study conducted by the Department of Microbiology of Patna Medical College, Patna along with King George's Medical University, Lucknow, observed that the positivity rates of Scrub typhus IgM or PCR was 25%, followed by IgM positivity for Japanese Encephalitis 8.1%, West Nile Virus (6.8%), Dengue virus (6.1%), Chikungunya Virus (4.5%). 1 Based on similar observations from other studies (2,3,4,5).…”

Genetic diversity of Orientia tsutsugamushi strains from patients in north India

“…Scrub typhus has emerged as a major cause of acute febrile illness (AFI) in India in recent years (Sethi et al, 2014;Khan et al, 2017;Abhilash et al, 2016;Jain et al, 2018a). AFI refers to fever with oral temperature more than 101 F for less than 14 days duration without localizing clinical features.…”

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Scrub Typhus in India

“…To the Editor: I read with interest the article by Khan et al ( 1 ). The National Vector-borne Disease Control Program reported >60,000 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in India during 2010–2016; 8 states (Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Manipur, and Tripura) accounted for most cases ( 2 ).…”