The Most Common Mite- and Tick-borne Infectious Diseases in Korea: Scrub Typhus and Severe Fever Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.
10.3904/kjm.2018.93.5.416
- Author:
Da Young KIM
1
;
Dong Min KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea. drongkim@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Tick-borne diseases;
Scrub typhus;
Phlebovirus
- MeSH:
Anaplasmosis;
Animals;
Antibodies;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Climate Change;
Communicable Diseases*;
Diagnosis;
Ehrlichiosis;
Fever*;
Headache;
Humans;
Incidence;
Korea*;
Lyme Disease;
Mites;
Nausea;
Phlebovirus;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Scrub Typhus*;
Serologic Tests;
Thrombocytopenia*;
Tick Bites;
Tick-Borne Diseases;
Vaccination;
Vomiting
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2018;93(5):416-423
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The incidence of mite- and tick-borne infectious disease is increasing with climate change and the development of diagnostic tools. Tick-borne infectious diseases include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), and Japanese spotted fever. Rickettsial pox and scrub typhus are mite-borne infectious diseases. Scrub typhus and SFTS are the most common mite- and tick-borne infectious diseases in Korea, respectively. They are often difficult to diagnose at an early stage of disease. To make a definite diagnosis of mite- and tick-borne infectious disease, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests or serologic testing for antibodies during the acute and convalescent periods are necessary. If patients with nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting, have a history of outdoor activity or a tick bite, it is reasonable to consider the possibility of mite- or tick-borne infectious diseases clinically. There are no vaccinations against mite- and tick-borne infectious diseases. Therefore, preventing mite or tick bites is the best way to prevent the diseases.
