Scrub typhus, a once-overlooked disease, is now re-emerging in several parts of India — especially after the monsoon. Caused by bacteria spread through mite bites, it can lead to severe complications if not diagnosed in time.
Have you come across any recent cases of scrub typhus in your clinical or academic settings?
How aware do you think the public is about this condition?
What should be done to improve early diagnosis, especially in rural areas?
I haven’t encountered scrub typhus personally, but it’s increasingly reported across India post-monsoon.
Public awareness remains low, especially in rural areas.
To improve early diagnosis, we need targeted community education and rural training for frontline health workers, emphasizing timely recognition and rapid testing.
Yes! Especially post monsoon most cases come into acknowledgement and public awareness is still low particularly in rural areas.
Strengthening public healthcare training and running trageted awareness campaigns can greatly improve early diagnosis.
Scrub typhus is definitely re-emerging, a worrying trend post monsoon. Public awareness is still quite low, sadly.
We urgently need community level education and accessible rapid diagnostic tests in rural areas to catch it early and prevent severe complications.
People are not much aware of this disease.
Conduct awareness programmes among them.
Doxycycline is the DOC.
If seen similar symptoms, do ELISA test, etc to detect Ab.
Unfortunately, public awareness about scrub typhus remains low, and its symptoms are often confused with common viral fevers. Strengthening primary healthcare systems, training local health workers, and initiating awareness drives in endemic regions are key to improving early diagnosis and reducing complications.
Read the full article here:
Scrub Typhus in India: The Re-Emerging Threat of a Forgotten Zoonosis