Since the first cases of tsutsugamushi disease reported in Korea in 1986, many cases has been reported and its occurrence has been increasing. Only 2 cases has been reported in Taegu city and Kyungpook area. We experienced an outbreak of 26 cases of tsutsugamushi disease in this area and their clinical manifestations are; 1. The outbreak occurred in September to November in 1988 and its peak occurrence was in October. 2. Mean age was 52 years old (18 to 69 years old) and peak incidence was in the 6th decade. 3. Major symptoms and abnormal signs are fever/chills (88%), myalgia (65%), headache (54%), nausea and vomiting (31%), and abdominal pain (27%). The eschar was detected on lower part of body in most of cases, and more frequently in male (M:F 100 vs 58%). 4. Patients were treated with tetracyclines (TC) and/or chlorampenicol (CM) and mean duration of defervescence from initiation of antibiotic therapy was 2.1days with TC and 2.5 days with CM. 5. Complications are 2 cases of meningitis and 1 case of shock, and all cases were recovered without any sequelae. As above, tsutsugamushi disease occurs in Taegu city and Kyung Pook area as other part of Korea and clinical manifestations are similar to other reports.
Abdominal Pain ; Daegu* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Meningitis ; Myalgia ; Nausea ; Scrub Typhus* ; Shock ; Tetracyclines ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Home exposure to aeroallergens are an important environmental factor in allergic sensitization and in the development and exacerbation of asthma. Most studies of aeroallergens were dust mite in Korea, but cockroach distribution was little been known in Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate species of cockroaches and seasonal distribution of cockroaches in Seoul area. METHODS: The study was performed during April 2000 through January 2001, from 63 houses in Korea. The total of 63 residential homes from different districts in Seoul were selected for the home environment survey. Bait traps (10 x 20 x 4 cm2, Zoro Zoro, Taisho Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan) were placed on four different places of kitchen floor and one in the side of balcony in the house and left for 5 days to capture cockroaches. RESULTS: The cockroaches were captured in 23 houses(36.5%) out of 63 houses. And the inhabitant density of cockroaches was highest in the autumn(43.3%) followed by summer (29.2%), spring(18.3%) and winter(9.2%). In only 3 species were collected in Seoul area. The most common species were Blattella germanica showing 72.5% of the collected cockroaches, followed by Periplaneta japonica(25.2%) Periplaneta americana(2.3%). The total number of captured cockroaches was 504 and the number of nymph was 314(62.2%). Isolated house type showed higher trapping rates than the apartment. Positive skin test rates were 46.2% in the healthy control group and 43.8% in the allergy patients. CONCLUSION: Periplaneta americana was captured in Seoul area, which had not been found previously. The inhabitant density of cockroaches was the lowest in the winter.
Allergens* ; Asthma ; Cockroaches* ; Dust ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Mites ; Nymph ; Periplaneta ; Pharmacy ; Seasons* ; Seoul* ; Skin Tests