BHOPAL: At a time when the state is still coping with dengue and chikungunya, a new threat has emerged – Scrub typhus, a contagious disease which is caused by bites of chiggers, lice, rats or ticks. Patients suffering from Scrub Typhus have been identified in Bhopal, Gwalior, Sehore, Sagar, Vidisha and other cities of state. According to K.L Sahu, director, NHM, five cases have been found in Bhopal and similar numbers have been reported in other infected cities as well. The disease came into notice when people getting treatment in private hospitals were found having typhus symptoms. The health department, after confirmation of the disease, has issued an alert in state and CMHO’s and civil surgeons have been asked to aware people about the disease.
Caused by virus Orientia tsutsugamushi, scrub typhus has already taken tool of nearly 20 people in Himachal Pradesh and patients in large numbers have been reported in Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir. The fatality rate of the disease is 30 per cent and since it is a vector borne disease, it is easily transmitted from person to person.
The symptoms of scrub typhus are primarily high fever, severe headache, chills, rashes which spreads on the whole body once virus starts reproducing in blood, eye sensitivity to bright lights. Once the vector bites a person, it leaves a rash on the skin where the vector bites. Once scratched, the virus enters the blood and starts reproducing it. The virus which causes the disease is mostly found in water logged areas, hilly areas and forests. The virus directly attacks the immune system of the body and causes severe damage to brain, liver, lungs. Most of the deaths are caused due to delayed treatment and multiple organ failures in this disease because the symptoms are similar to dengue, chikungunya.
CMHO Dr Veena Sinha, said that hospitals have been informed to report if any symptom of typhus is found in any patient because it is easily transmittable through common insects and rats. “Immunofluorescence tests for diagnosis and Antibiotics are commonly used to treat this disease. But we will have to be very alert if anyone has mites at house or anyone known has acquired the disease. Immediate treatment is needed to stop it from causing severe damage to patient”, she said.
