SCRUB TYPHUS Ig-M ANTIBODIES

Overview

Scrub typhus is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of the larval stage of trombiculid mites. The clinical presentation may vary from a mild febrile illness to a life-threatening disseminated infection with serious complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, hepatitis, renal failure, meningitis, and multiple organ failure, making the diagnosis difficult. The illness varies from mild self limiting to fatal with an incubation period of 6-21 days characterized by fever, headache, myalgia, cough and gastrointestinal symptoms. Severe cases may develop Encephalitis and Interstitial pneumonia.