![]() |
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through the bite of infected chigger mites, is a significant cause of acute febrile illness in many parts of India. Although historically underdiagnosed, it is now increasingly recognized as a public health concern in several endemic regions, particularly following the monsoon season and natural disasters such as floods. This review aims to examine the epidemiological trends, clinical features, diagnostic challenges, treatment options, and preventive strategies related to scrub typhus in India. It also highlights the current gaps in surveillance, awareness, and healthcare infrastructure that hinder effective control of the disease. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using data from published articles, government reports, and recent surveillance updates to present a holistic view of scrub typhus in India. Early diagnosis, increased clinical awareness, improved diagnostic accessibility, community-based education, and integrated vector control measures are vital to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with scrub typhus in India.
Abhilash KP, Jeevan JA, Mitra S, Paul N, Murugan TP, Rangaraj A, et al., Acute undifferentiated febrile illness in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in South India: Clinical spectrum and outcome. J Glob Infect Dis. 2016;8(4):147–54. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-777X.192966
Agrawal A, Parida P, Rup AR, Patnaik S, Biswal S. Scrub typhus in paediatric age group at a tertiary care centre of eastern India: Clinical, biochemical profile and complications. J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(6):2503–6. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1392_21
Balaji J, George S, Jayakumar S, et al., Evaluation of serological assays for diagnosis of scrub typhus. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2014;57(4):529–31.
Blacksell SD, Bryant NJ, Paris DH, Doust JA, Sakoda Y, Day NP, et al., Scrub typhus serologic testing with the InBios Scrub Typhus Detect™ IgM rapid test. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2010;17(12):1650–3. https://doi.org/10.1128/CVI.00296-10
Chrispal A, Boorugu H, Gopinath KG, Prakash JA, Chandy S, Abraham OC, et al., Scrub typhus: an unrecognized threat in South India – clinical profile and predictors of mortality. Trop Doct. 2010;40(3):129–33. https://doi.org/10.1258/td.2010.090452
Chunchanur SK, Venugopal SJ, Bhuvana SN, Rudramurthy GR, Basavaraj MC. Molecular diagnosis of scrub typhus: Application of a multiplex PCR assay. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2019;37(1):37–41. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmm.IJMM_18_356
Damodar T, Singh B, Prabhu N, Marate S, Gowda VK, Lalitha AV, et al., Association of scrub typhus in children with acute encephalitis syndrome and meningoencephalitis, southern India. Emerg Infect Dis. 2023;29(4):711–4. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2904.221466
Devasagayam E, Dayanand D, Kundu D, Kamath MS, Kirubakaran R, Varghese GM. The burden of scrub typhus in India: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(7):e0009619. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009619
Garg D, Manesh A. Neurological facets of scrub typhus: A comprehensive narrative review. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2021;24(6):849–57. https://doi.org/10.4103/aian.AIAN_1083_20
Kelly DJ, Fuerst PA, Ching WM, Richards AL. Scrub typhus: the geographic distribution of phenotypic and genotypic variants of Orientia tsutsugamushi. Clin Infect Dis. 2009;48(Suppl 3):S203–30. https://doi.org/10.1086/596576
Kim DM, Kim HL, Park CY, Yang TY, Lee JH. Clinical usefulness of the InBios rapid diagnostic test for scrub typhus. Korean J Intern Med. 2014;29(4):514–20. https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2014.29.4.514
Li W, Huang L and Zhang W: Scrub typhus with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome and immune thrombocytopenia: A case report and review of the literature. J Med Case Rep. 13(358)2019. PubMed/NCBI View Article: Google Scholar https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-019-2299-x
Mahajan SK. Scrub typhus. J Assoc Physicians India. 2005;53:954–8.
Mathai E, Rolain JM, Verghese GM, Abraham OC, Mathai D, Mathai M, et al., Outbreak of scrub typhus in Southern India during the cooler months. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003;990:359–64. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb07389.x
Mohapatra RK, Al-Haideri M, Mishra S, Mahal A, Sarangi AK, Khatib MN, et al., Linking the increasing epidemiology of scrub typhus transmission in India and South Asia: Are the varying environment and the reservoir animals the factors behind? Front Trop Dis. 2024;5:1371905. https://doi.org/10.3389/ftdsc.2024.1371905
Murhekar MV, Mittal M, Prakash JA, et al., Pediatric scrub typhus: a multicenter study of clinical features, outcomes and diagnostic accuracy. Indian Pediatr. 2017;54(6):453–8.
Paris DH, Shelite TR, Day NP, et al., Unresolved problems related to scrub typhus: a seriously neglected life-threatening disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013;89(2):301–7. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0064
Rose W, Rajan RJ, Punnoose VP, et al., GIS mapping of scrub typhus in India: a tool for public health surveillance. Trop Med Int Health. 2016;21(8):1063–9.
Sahu S, Misra SR, Padhan P, Sahu S. Scrub typhus in a tertiary care hospital in the eastern part of Odisha. Apollo Med. 2015;12(1):2–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apme.2014.12.003
Seong SY, Choi MS, Kim IS. Orientia tsutsugamushi infection: Overview and immune responses. Microbes Infect. 2001;3(1):11–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1286-4579(00)01227-9
Sharma A, Mahajan S, Gupta ML, et al., Investigative diagnosis and management of scrub typhus: challenges in resource-limited settings. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2016;34(2):180–5. https://doi.org/10.4103/0255-0857.180377
Sharma N, Biswal M, Kumar A, Zaman K, Jain S and Bhalla A: Scrub Typhus in a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 95:447–451. 2016. PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0086
Sharma NL, Mahajan SK, Negi AK, Gupta A, Sharma A, Jha BM, et al., An outbreak of scrub typhus in Himachal Pradesh (India). Jpn J Infect Dis. 2005;58(4):208–10.
Singh P. Scrub typhus, a case report: Military and regional significance. Med J Armed Forces India. 2004;60(1):89–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-1237(04)80041-5
Sondhiya G, Manjunathachar HV, Singh P, Kumar R. Unveiling the burden of scrub typhus in acute febrile illness cases across India: A systematic review & meta-analysis. Indian J Med Res. 2023;159(6):601–18. https://doi.org/10.25259/ijmr_1442_23
Varghese GM, Abraham OC, Mathai D. Scrub typhus: clinical features, diagnostic challenges and therapeutic options. Med Update. 2006;16:365–70.
Varghese GM, Trowbridge P, Janardhanan J, Thomas K, Peter JV, Mathews P, et al., Clinical profile and improving mortality trend of scrub typhus in South India. Int J Infect Dis. 2014;23:39–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.02.009
Vashishtha A, Kumar V, Panwar G, Kausik G, Baig S, Sharma P, Yadav R. Scrub typhus update: A re?emerging global threat beyond the Tsutsugamushi Triangle and the physiological ramifications of scrub typhus infection (Review). World Acad Sci J. 2025 Feb 6;34. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.322.
Watt G, Parola P. Scrub typhus and tropical rickettsioses. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2003;16(5):429–36.
Xu G, Walker DH, Jupiter D, Melby PC, Arcari CM. A review of the global epidemiology of scrub typhus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017;11(11):e0006062. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006062![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |