SUCCESSFUL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF A SCRUB TYPHUS CASE AT THE EMERGENCY AND INTENSIVE CARE DEPARTMENT – THAI NGUYEN INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL

Recently, the Emergency and Intensive Care Department of Thai Nguyen International Hospital successfully received and treated a 46-year-old patient (L.V.S.), who was admitted in a condition of high fever, fatigue, and rapid weight loss.

Upon admission, the patient had a persistent fever of 39°C, poor appetite, and had lost 6–7 kg within one week. Laboratory results showed severe infection, electrolyte imbalance, high blood glucose levels, and liver damage. The initial diagnosis included diabetes with possible ketoacidosis complication – fever of unknown origin, suspected sepsis – and electrolyte disorder.

After two days of antibiotic treatment with no improvement in fever, doctors further investigated the epidemiological history. It was revealed that the patient had recently worked in a mountainous forest area in the South and had been bitten by an unidentified insect on the scrotal skin. Physical examination found a 5x5 mm circular lesion with a dark crust covering a firm papule, along with swollen and painful inguinal lymph nodes on both sides. Based on clinical signs, doctors at the Emergency and Intensive Care Department diagnosed the patient with scrub typhus (bush typhus).

🌡 Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is an acute infectious disease caused by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. Clinically, it is characterized by fever lasting 2–3 weeks, accompanied by a characteristic skin lesion at the bite site, rash, and lymphadenitis. The disease can range from mild to severe, potentially leading to pneumonia, meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, or even multiple organ failure and death if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

The patient was immediately prescribed a combination of Doxycycline and Cefoperazone according to the treatment protocol. After two days, the patient’s fever subsided, overall condition improved significantly, inflammatory markers returned to normal, and appetite and daily activities were restored. Thanks to the timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment regimen, and effective multidisciplinary coordination, the patient made a full recovery, avoiding severe complications.

This is one of the successfully identified and properly managed scrub typhus cases at the Emergency and Intensive Care Department – Thai Nguyen International Hospital, reaffirming the professional expertise, dedication, and adaptability of the hospital’s medical team in emergency care and treatment.

Thai Nguyen International Hospital advises:

If you experience prolonged unexplained fever, especially after going to the forest, working in humid environments, or having insect bites, you should seek immediate medical attention for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent dangerous complications of scrub typhus.