Key result
Diabetes, skin rash, and hemoglobin <7 g/dL are linked to higher severe scrub typhus risk.
Why the study?
Clinical and laboratory characteristics of scrub typhus were analyzed to identify predictors associated with severe disease outcomes and improve timely diagnosis, risk assessment, and complication management.
What are the clinical and laboratory predictors associated with severe scrub typhus in adults?
Observational (n=546)
No
What are the clinical and laboratory predictors associated with severe scrub typhus in adults?
Effect estimate: OR 4.407
p-value: p=0.004
Diabetes mellitus, skin rash, and severe anemia are significant predictors of severe scrub typhus in adults, highlighting the need for early recognition to manage complications.
Should not yet inform risk stratification in scrub typhus; leaves open utility of identified predictors pending prospective validation.
A BSTRACT Introduction: Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi , is a mite-borne infectious disease prevalent in the “tsutsugamushi triangle,” including India. This study analyzes clinical and laboratory characteristics of scrub typhus patients at a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry to improve timely diagnosis, risk assessment, and management of complications. Objective: To identify the clinical and laboratory predictors associated with the severity of scrub typhus in patients admitted to a teaching hospital in Puducherry, South India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on scrub typhus patients aged 18 years and above admitted to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Puducherry, from 2019 to 2023. IgM ELISA confirmed diagnosis. Statistical tests identified clinical and laboratory predictors associated with severe disease outcomes. Results: Among 546 scrub typhus cases, 44.1% were males and 55.9% females, with a mean age of 47.1 years. High-grade fever (87.9%) and eschar (44.1%) were the most common symptoms. Significant predictors of severity included diabetes mellitus ( P = 0.001; odds ratio [OR] =3.206), skin rash ( P = 0.030; OR = 1.888), and hemoglobin <7 g/dL ( P = 0.004; OR = 4.407). Conclusion: This study underscores the public health burden of scrub typhus, emphasizing severe complications like myocarditis and pneumonia. Identifying key predictors, such as diabetes, skin rash, and severe anemia, is crucial for early recognition and timely intervention to reduce mortality and manage the disease effectively.
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Raja et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Scrub typhus (n=546). Risk factors (diabetes mellitus, skin rash, hemoglobin <7 g/dL) was evaluated on Severe disease outcomes (OR 4.407, p=0.004). Diabetes mellitus (OR 3.206), skin rash (OR 1.888), and hemoglobin <7 g/dL (OR 4.407) were significant predictors of severe scrub typhus outcomes.
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