Could my symptoms indicate scrub typhus?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 35-year-old wildlife photographer who recently spent three weeks in a rural area for a project. About 10 days after returning, I began feeling feverish, with severe headaches, body aches, and fatigue. I have also noticed a small, painless sore on my left ankle, which was red and crusted over. I developed a patchy rash on my abdomen and back in the last couple of days.

Blood tests showed mildly elevated liver enzymes and a drop in platelet count.

Could this be scrub typhus or something else related to my trip? What tests and treatments should I consider?

Please guide.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for posting your query.

Given your current symptoms of fever, headache, rashes, and travel history to rural area, it could be dengue, which is caused by a mosquito bite. Additionally, bite marks on the leg may suggest scrub typhus. However, scrub typhus typically presents with a characteristic black eschar on the neck or back.

To rule out these possibilities and make an accurate diagnosis, the following blood tests are recommended:

Complete blood count (CBC).
Dengue NS1 antigen test.
Malarial parasite test in blood.
ELISA ( enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) for scrub typhus.

Please let me know if you want some help.

Thank you.