Context:
Recently, a team of researchers from Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and PGIMER Chandigarh found that an antibiotic combo is best for severe scrub typhus.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Dimensions of the Article:
- Scrub Typhus
- Typhus Fevers
Scrub Typhus
- Scrub typhus is a serious infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria. It poses a significant public health risk in South and Southeast Asia.
Transmission:
- The infection is spread through bites from infected chiggers, which are larval mites.
Symptoms:
- The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes a rash.
Treatment:
- Doxycycline is the recommended antibiotic for treating scrub typhus. It is safe for people of all ages.
Vaccine:
- Unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine available for scrub typhus.
Typhus Fevers
- Typhus fevers refer to a group of diseases caused by different types of bacteria, including:
- Epidemic typhus, caused by Rickettsia prowazeki, and spread by body lice.
- Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, and spread by chiggers.
- Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, and spread by fleas.
-Source: The Hindu
