Scrub Typhus
2023 MAR 7
Preliminary >
Social Justice > Health > Diseases
Why in news?
- A team of researchers found that a combination of antibiotic treatment (with intravenous doxycycline and azithromycin) is more effective for treating Severe Scrub Typhus than single-drug therapies.
About Scrub Typhus:
- Scrub Typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi.
- Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites).
- The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash.
Cases of Scrub typhus:
- It is a major public health threat in South and Southeast Asia.
- As per estimates, nearly one million cases are reported from South and Southeast Asia with 10% mortality.
- India is one of the hotspots with at least 25% of the disease burden.
Treatment:
- Scrub typhus can be treated with antibiotics.
- No vaccine is available to prevent scrub typhus.
PRACTICE QUESTION:
Consider the following statements regarding the disease ‘Scrub Typhus’:
1. It is caused by virus
2. It is a non-communicable disease
3. It can be treated with antibiotics
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Answer