Publication:

Burden and clinical characteristics of Scrub typhus in Deoghar: analysis of a hospital-based cohort

Background Scrub typhus remains a significant cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in endemic regions, and transmission is modulated by ecological and seasonal forces. This study was done to characterise the epidemiological features, sex and age distribution, seasonal patterns, and clinical manifestations of suspected and laboratory-diagnosed Scrub typhus cases reported in 2025.

Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study in 204 clinically suspected patients of Scrub typhus who were tested for the disease. Laboratory confirmation was done through serological testing. Demographic data, month-wise trends, clinical symptoms were obtained and evaluated to determine positivity rates and predictive clinical features.

Results Of the 204 suspected cases, laboratory tests confirmed 47 (23% positivity). Men had a 24.37% positive rate, compared to 21.18% for women. Cases were seen at all ages, peaked at >15 years and were predominantly male in the ≥50s. From January to March, data were mostly monthly, indicating robust seasonality and a few positives. The monsoon (August) and post-monsoon (November) seasons in India had the largest number of positive incidences, with positivity rates being 41.0% and 34.1%, respectively, followed by a decline in December. The most frequent symptom in suspected and confirmed cases was fever with chills. Patients had increasing abdominal pain and vomiting, headaches and rarely myalgia or cough.

Conclusions This study confirmed the seasonality, sex predilection of scrub typhus and clinical spectrum. Ongoing daily surveillance in high-hazard months may allow endemic residents to detect and treat epidemic disease sooner.