Overview
Scrub typhus is a bacterial infection spread by the bite of tiny larval mites (chiggers) found in bushy, grassy areas, and it is an increasingly recognised cause of fever in India, especially after the monsoon. It causes high fever, headache and body ache, and a tell-tale black scab may mark the bite. It responds quickly to a specific antibiotic, but if missed it can become serious, so an unexplained fever with this history should be checked.
Symptoms
- High fever with chills and headache
- Body aches and tiredness
- A black scab (eschar) at the site of the mite bite
- Swollen lymph glands
- Rash and, in severe cases, breathlessness or confusion
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for an unexplained high fever, especially with a black scab or after time in grassy or bushy areas — the right antibiotic works fast.
Emergency — call 108 or go to the nearest hospital
- Breathlessness, confusion, reduced urine, or bleeding with the fever — signs of severe illness, seek hospital care immediately
Causes
The bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, spread by the bite of infected larval mites in scrub and grassland, common after the rains.