23 hours ago
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With Andhra Pradesh reporting a surge in scrub typhus cases and a rise in related deaths, senior health officials and clinicians in Telangana have said that the situation remains under control in the State. They have urged families to take basic precautions, particularly as holiday travel and outdoor visits increase in December.
Scrub typhus is an infection caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected larval mites, commonly known as chiggers. The illness presents with fever and chills, headache, body ache and muscle pain. Many patients also develop a dark, scab-like patch at the site of the bite.
Telangana’s Director of Public Health (DPH) Ravinder Naik said the State has not yet received any specific guidance from the Union government on scrub typhus. “However, public health facilities have been kept on alert with routine arrangements for fever and respiratory cases. These include availability of medicines, consumables, beds, doctors and paramedical staff,” Mr.Naik added.
Superintendent of government-run Niloufer Hospital, G. Vijay Kumar said scrub typhus belongs to a broader group of rickettsial infections that are now viewed as re-emerging across parts of the country. He explained that rickettsial diseases are transmitted through arthropods such as ticks, mites and fleas. “Scrub typhus presents like any other high-grade fever with chills and rigours and may progress to serious complications involving the liver or brain. In rare instances, it can also lead to death,” he added.
Dr Kumar said scrub typhus is treatable with antibiotics such as doxycycline and azithromycin. Children are usually managed with azithromycin, while older children and adults with severe symptoms are given doxycycline for 7 to 10 days.
Pulmonologist and allergist Vyakarnam Nageshwar said families in Hyderabad often travel to farms, resorts and gardens during the winter break, which increases the likelihood of exposure to mites that carry the bacterium. According to him, simple precautions can prevent nearly 90% of cases.
“People should avoid bushes and crop fields during outings, ensure that children wear full shirts, full trousers and shoes, and take a thorough shower immediately after returning home. Parents need to take responsibility for enforcing these practices since children tend to play without caution,” he added.
Dr Nageshwar said delays in seeking medical care also contribute to complications. Any rash, itching or a small sore at the site of a mite bite, along with fever or body pain after a trip, must prompt immediate medical attention.
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