The World Health Organization has reported scrub typhus one of the world’s most under diagnosed and under reported disease that often requires hospitalization. Better understanding of the vectors, its outbreaks and its pathogenesis is required to control human outbreaks within and beyond its recognized regions of endemicity [1,2].

Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state in northern India, situated at an altitude between 350-6816 meters above mean sea level. During the rainy seasons, areas of lower altitudes experience an average temperature between 20ºC to 35ºC which is suitable for the spread of arthropod vector. Maximum number of the cases are being reported between the months of July to November [3,4].

Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by O. tsutsugamushi [5]. Thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150,000/cmm) is also very ommon and DIC is a well-recognized complication of Scrub typhus [6].

Hemophagocyt i c syndrome, al so known as Hemophagocytic lymph histiocytosis (HLH), is a rare but serious complication, thought to occur due to dysregulated activation and proliferation of lymphocytes. Thrombotic complications are rare [6,7].

Scrub typhus is a well-documented disease in the state of Himachal Pradesh, but there have been no studies on Hematological manifestations which is associated with the exposure to Orientia tsutsugamushi in the paediatric age group population. Therefore, this study was done to determine the Hematological manifestations among patients with Scrub typhus. 

Aims and Objectives

To determine the Hematological manifestations among patients with Scrub typhus. 

This study was conducted in the department of Paediatrics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, a tertiary care teaching institute in Himachal Pradesh.                                                       

Duration of Study

From 1^st June 2017   to  30^th Nov 2018.

Study Design 

Cross-sectional Study.

Ethical Clearance

Approval from the Institutional ethical committee of Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla.

Study Population           

The study participants consisted of all 102 newly diagnosed paediatric cases of scrub typhus, admitted in pediatric ward of IGMC Hospital Shimla based on positive IgM against scrub typhus during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria   

• The study subjects having concomitant HIV, Malaria, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Typhoid and Acinetobacter septicaemia.

• Participants in the control group B and group C having febrile illness during the last three months. 

• Participants or their parents who are not willing to participate in the study.

Sampling Method 

All the diagnosed cases of scrub typhus based on enrolment criteria at the time of admission in the paediatric ward were enrolled 

Statistical Analysis

Data from the case record files was recorded on a Microsoft excel spreadsheet. Statistical analysis was performed using Epi Info 7. All discrete variables were expressed as percentages.

In the present study, among 102 newly diagnosed cases of Scrub Typus, 57 (55.9%) were males while 45 (44.1%) were females. 39 (38.2%) were in the age group of 1-10 years while 63 (61.8%) were in the age group of 11-18 years.

Haematological Profiles

Out of 102 cases 75 (73.5%) cases had increased ESR (>20), 51(50.0%) cases had low haemoglobin level (Hb < 11), followed by 33(32.4%) cases had leucocytosis (TLC >12000/cumm) with mean value of 11363±6426, leucopenia was documented in 1 case, lymphocytosis (>40%) was present in 30 (29.4%) cases and Neutrophillia >75% in 15(14.7%) cases. Thrombocytopenia (platelets < 150,000/cumm) was present in 31(30.4%) cases. 

Table 1: Age and Gender distribution of the Study Population

Scrub typhus is an underappreciated cause of acute febrile illness in many parts of India [8,9]. It is caused by the rickettsial pathogen O. tsutsugamushi, which is transmitted by the bite of larval trombiculid mites inhabiting scrub vegetation. Often, it results in life-threatening complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, hepato-renal dysfunction, and meningoencephalitis [10].

In the present study , out of 102 cases 75 (73.5%) cases had increased ESR (>20), 51(50.0%) cases had low haemoglobin level (Hb < 11), followed by 33(32.4%) cases had leucocytosis (TLC >12000/cumm) with mean value of 11363±6426, leucopenia was documented in 1 case (0.9%), lymphocytosis(>40%) was present in 30 (29.4%) cases and Neutrophillia >75% in 15(14.7%) cases. Thrombocytopenia (platelets < 150,000/cumm) was present in 31(30.4%) cases^. In a study conducted by Digra et al [11] and Vivekanandan et al [12] leucocytosis was present in 28% and 30% respectively. In study done by and Vikrant et al [13] thrombocytopenia was found in 10% cases.

Scrub typhus is endemic and documented zoonosis in the state of Himachal Pradesh as the climatic and geographical conditions are conducive for spread of vector of the scrub typhus.The general physicians should be sensitized regarding Haematological Findings associated with Scrub typhus which provides useful clue in diagnosis.

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2. World Health Organization. WHO Recommended Surveillance Standards. World Health Organization, 1999.

3. Jiang, J., and A. Richards. Scrub Typhus: No Longer Restricted to the Tsutsugamushi Triangle. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, vol. 3, no. 11, March 2018, pp. 1–7.

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10. Mahajan, S.K. et al. Scrub Typhus in Himalayas. Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 12, 2006, pp. 1590–1592.

11. Digra, S.K. et al. Scrub Typhus in Children: Jammu Experience. JK Science, vol. 12, 2010, pp. 95–97.

12. Vivekanandan, M. et al. Outbreak of Scrub Typhus in Pondicherry. Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, vol. 58, 2010, pp. 24–28.

13. Vikrant, S. et al. Scrub Typhus–Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in the Western Himalayan State of India. Informa Healthcare, 2013, pp. 1–6.