Producer: Priyanka Das
Editor: Sujata Singh
10 Shocking Facts about
Scrub Typhus
Scrub typhus is caused by a mite-borne bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi.
The disease is transmitted by chigger mites, the larval stage, from animals such as rats, squirrels and rabbits, to humans.
Most cases of scrub typhus occur in rural areas of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, India, and northern Australia.
Common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash.
A dark, scab-like region at the site of the bite is also usually visible.
Symptoms begin within 10 days of being bitten.
Severe illness can cause organ failure and bleeding, which can be fatal.
Scrub typhus should be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. Antibiotics are most effective if given soon after symptoms begin.
No vaccine is available to prevent the disease. The risk can be reduced by avoiding contact with infected chiggers.
When travelling to places where the disease is common, avoid areas with lots of vegetation and brush where chiggers may be found.
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