Odisha’s Bargarh district has witnessed a tragic outbreak of scrub typhus infection, with at least five individuals succumbing to the disease. Although Bargarh district experienced a scrub typhus outbreak in 2014, there were no casualties reported at that time.
Scrub typhus, which spreads through bites from infected chiggers (larval mites), typically occurs when humans come into contact with these mites in farmland, forests, and village ponds. It is a vector-borne disease and is commonly seen during the rainy season, spanning from November to July. Common symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and the development of a dark, inflamed mark on the skin.
Reports have also emerged of scrub typhus cases in other districts, including Keonjhar, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda.
Not only scrub typhus has put Odisha in trouble, another disease has also caught the state. Leptospirosis has killed another in the state. District health authorities have been asked by the Odisha government to have increased surveillance for Scrub Typhus and Leptospirosis.
The Odisha Health Department has instructed district health authorities to secure testing supplies for the DPHL, educate doctors to recommend tests for patients with prolonged unexplained fever (PUO), boost public awareness and early detection efforts, and enhance surveillance measures. Furthermore, the health department has requested that authorities utilize suitable antibiotics and maintain a sufficient inventory of medications.
Scrub typhus and leptospirosis share some common symptoms, such as high fever and headache. Both diseases can cause fever and severe headache as part of their clinical presentation.
However, they also have distinct symptoms that help differentiate them. Scrub typhus is often associated with body aches and sometimes a rash, while leptospirosis may present with chills, vomiting, red eyes, abdominal pain, rashes, and diarrhea.
Additionally, leptospirosis can lead to more severe complications such as kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, and respiratory distress, whereas scrub typhus typically does not result in these specific complications. It’s important to consider the full spectrum of symptoms and seek medical attention for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment in cases of suspected infection with either of these diseases.
