Objective To investigate the relationship between chest radiographic changes and clinical manifestations in patients with scrub typhus in Guangdong area.MethodsA total of 148 cases of scrub typhus admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Ji′nan University,Guangzhou Eighth People′s Hospital and the Second People′s Hospital of Yuebei between 1999 and 2010 was retrospectively reviewed.The patients were divided into two groups based on the findings of the chest X-rays (with or without radiographic abnormalities).Furthermore,the clinical characteristics and prognosis in two groups were compared.The statistical analysis was done using t test,chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test.ResultsChest X-rays showed abnormalities in 66 (44.6％) cases,and the chest X-ray features were diverse.The incidences of cough,severe thrombocytopenia,hypoalbuminemia,shock,acute respiratory failure,jaundice and acute renal failure were all significantly increased in group of patients with chest X-rays abnormalities compared with the other group of patients without chest X-rays abnormalities (χ2 =18.193,6.872,17.138,5.608,4.318,7.982 and 7.932,respectively; all P＜0.05).The hospitalization day was longer in patients with chest X-rays abnormalities compared with the patients without chest X-rays abnormalities,but there was no statistical difference [(11.7±7.1)d vs (9.9±5.0)d,t=1.717; P=0.088)],while the mortality was higher(6.1 ％ vs 0; Fisher′s exact test,P =0.038).Conclusions The clinical manifestations of the patients with scrub typhus are diverse,and the presence of abnormal chest X-rays is shown to be associated with the disease severity.Physicians should have the awareness of scrub typhus to make the diagnosis and treatment properly.