A clinical research of tsutsugamushi disease occurred in and around Jeoung-up in the autumn of 2000.
- Author:
Heyon Sook KIM
1
;
Kwan Ho JO
;
Sang Gun KANG
;
Mann Jin CHA
;
Hye Hun HWANG
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Asan Foundation Jeoung
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Tsutsugamushi diseases;
eschar
- MeSH:
Alkaline Phosphatase;
Anemia;
Cough;
Diagnosis;
Early Diagnosis;
Exanthema;
Female;
Fever;
Headache;
Hematuria;
Humans;
Hypoalbuminemia;
Jeollabuk-do*;
Korea;
Liver;
Lymphatic Diseases;
Male;
Myalgia;
Nausea;
Orientia tsutsugamushi;
Pharyngitis;
Physicians, Primary Care;
Platelet Count;
Prognosis;
Proteinuria;
Pyuria;
Scrub Typhus*;
Urinalysis;
Vomiting
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine
2002;23(1):87-95
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: In korea, tsutsugamushi disease is one of the common diseases which occurs in more than 40% among acute febrile diseases during Autumn. The diagnosis is confirmed with Rickettsia tsutsugamushi antibody, and is characterised by fever, chill, headache, myalgia, skin rash, escha and lymphadenopathy. METHODS: We have conducted a survey on 16 clinically and serologically confirmed cases of Tsutsugamushi disease occurring during the period of October -November, 2000. RESULTS: Of 16 cases,7 were males and 9 were females with an average age of 67.76. Most patients had fever, chill, headache, myalgia, sore throat, cojunctival injection, cough, abdominal, pain, nausea, vomiting, hematuria in order of frequency. The physical findings were eachar (81.257) and skin rash (62.77) . Serologically 7 cases (43.75%) of 16 cases were confirmed positively R.tsutsugamushi antibody. General hematologic findings were decreased platelet count (37.57) , increased or decreased WBC (31.25% and 25% each other) , and anemia (25%) , Test for liver function included elevated AST, ALT (68.76%) , alkaline phosphatase (62.6%) , hypoalbuminemia (12.6%) , and hyperbilirubinemia(6.25) . Urinalysis showed hematuria (50%) , proteinuria (50%) , and pyuria (12.67) . Doxyrcycline therapy decreased fever in 2.85 days and after 5-6 days patients were discharged with improvement of almost all symptoms. CONCLUSION: Primary care physician in a community should always consider tsutsugamushi disease when he encounters patients with acute febrile disease in late Autumn and early winter and expect good prognosis with early diagnosis and treatment.
