Biomedicine

Abstract

Objectives: Scrub typhus caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi represents a notable public health concern across India, particularly in Odisha. Since the symptoms are not specific, there is a need for a definitive and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. The primary objective of this investigation was to establish a firm groundwork for further analysis, underscoring the escalating importance of scrub typhus as a major health hazard in the eastern region of India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted from April 2023 to March 2024, and it included 3,579 patients presenting with acute febrile illness at IMS and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Laboratory data of serological assessment using the InBios Scrub typhus IgM kit was obtained and analyzed to identify seropositive scrub typhus cases. The data was assessed utilizing Epi-Info software (version 3.5.1, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA). Result: Out of 3579 serum samples, 235 (6.79%) were scrub typhus positive, mostly presenting with non-specific symptoms such as fever (100%) and dermatological eruptions (20%). The majority belonged to the 21-40 age group (31.49%). An intriguing transition from rural to urban settings was discerned. Organ-specific symptoms included polyarthralgia (97;41.28%), lymphadenopathy (70;30.21%), and hepatomegaly (35;14.89%), whereas eschar was rarely (6;2.55%) observed. A marked seasonal variation was evident, with its peak incidence during the monsoon season (178;10.91%). Conclusion: This investigation accentuates the escalating significance of scrub typhus as a public health concern in eastern India, emphasizing the necessity for sustained research initiatives and enhanced public health interventions to manage efficiently.