Early Diagnosis Can Help Cure Scrub Typhus

By Nayak Paudel

Kathmandu, Aug. 15: Diagnosis of scrub typhus in six children suffering from unusual fever and different respiratory problems and admitted at B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan a few months after the 2015 earthquake led concerned authorities to take necessary step in preventing, diagnosing and controlling the disease.
Although the children were admitted, Nepal had no screening for scrub typhus then as the disease was not detected in the country earlier. Four of the children died while undergoing treatment.

The samples collected from the children and sent to Bangkok, Thailand, for testing revealed that the children were suffering from scrub typhus, a disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi and passed on humans through bites of infected chiggers (larva mites). According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), 102 cases of scrub typhus with eight deaths were recorded across Nepal in 2015.

“There were no diagnostic kits for scrub typhus before 2015. After the disease was diagnosed and the health authorities started showing concerns, many cases of scrub typhus are being recorded every year after it,” said Uttam Raj Pyakurel, vector control inspector at the EDCD. The data by the EDCD show that 831 cases of the disease and 14 deaths were recorded in 2016 followed by 670 cases and 12 deaths in 2017 and 1,098 cases and four deaths in 2018.

The year 2019 had recorded the highest cases with 1,674 individuals diagnosed with scrub typhus with four deaths.
“A total of 325 cases have been recorded across the country in 2020 until August 10. We have no confirmed fatality due to the disease this year,” said Pyakurel. Months from mid-July to October are prone to scrub typhus, and experts have urged public to take precaution. Since mid-July to October in 2019, a total of 1,271 scrub typhus cases were recorded.

“People must avoid grasslands, bush areas and areas with lots of vegetation because it is where chiggers are found,” Pyakurel said. Since chiggers feed on rodents such as mice, people are also suggested to keep their house and environment clean. Experts said that the scrub typhus could be cured easily but if it was not diagnosed early, the result could be fatal.

“Scrub typhus is treated with antibiotic medicines. But if an individual with the disease is not diagnosed and given medication, the disease can result in death,” said Pyakurel.

According to the officials at the EDCD, health centres in most of the parts of the countries have diagnostic kits to diagnose scrub typhus within 15 minutes and the medicines for treatment are distributed to health posts throughout the country and are provided to the patients free of cost.

“The diagnosis is fast and the treatment is easy as well. If an individual is suffering from scrub typhus, s/he will have some symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, skin rashes and muscle pain among others. The ones with such symptoms should reach a nearby health facility at the earliest,” Pyakurel added.
As the cases of scrub typhus are recorded in the districts of Himalayas as well, authorities have been generating awareness and training health workers to diagnose and treat the disease in many parts of the country.

The Rising Nepal

Next Post

PM Oli And His Indian Counterpart Modi Hold Telephone Conversation

Sat Aug 15 , 2020
Tweet Kathmandu, Aug. 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has […]

Health Tips