Insect bites are not only painful but they can also spread a lot of infections. Scrub typhus is such an infection. It can’t be predicted or foretold and can cause infection silently. Infectious Disease Center, Hyderabad, is a specialized clinic that deals with all kinds of infectious diseases and provides the best treatment for the same.
What Is Scrub Typhus?
There is an arachnid (insect-like pests, but not insects, like a scorpion, spider, etc.) called chiggers or larval mites. When these pests bite, they can infect humans with a specific kind of bacteria that causes an infection called the scrub typhus.
Mostly, this kind of mites can be found outdoors. But it can infest as well if there is a lack of cleanliness or dampness in the environment.
What Does Scrub Typhus Feel Like?
The initial symptoms of scrub typhus can be seen around 10 days from the date of biting. Watch out for the following symptoms:
- Fever with chills
- Cough
- Rash
- Headache and body pain
- Muscle weakness and twitching
- Eschar (dark-looking patch of dead tissue)
- Digestive irregularities
If the infection spreads to the bloodstream, severe health complications may surface like a compromised immune system, infection is other parts of the body, organ damage, reduced cognitive ability, etc. AT its extreme, it can also be fatal.
How Is Scrub Typhus Treated?
The only treatment for scrub typhus is a course of antibiotic. The sooner the treatment starts, the better and faster the infection subsides.
In addition to antibiotics, you may be given some supporting medicines which will manage your fever, rashes, etc. The site of infection may be deep cleaned to remove dead tissues.
How Can You Prevent Scrub Typhus?
Till date, there is no vaccination that prevents scrub typhus. Hence, it all comes down to cleanliness and caution. You can practice the following preventive measures to avoid being bitten by chiggers:
- Wear protective clothing that covers all your skin when you are outdoors.
- Use skin-friendly insect-repellants near bushes.
- Avoid going to places where there are dense bushes.
- Reach out to your social healthcare provider to treat your neighbourhood with pest-control.
- Wash clothes properly after wearing them outside of your house.
However, if you do get bitten by an insect, make sure that you get the bite checked out by a doctor so that you can be sure of its health impact.
Scrub Typhus Treatment
If you are infected with scrub typhus, you can find effective treatment at Infectious Disease Center. Our doctors are infections experts and are extensively experienced in treating all sorts of infections. We customize our medical regimen based on the requirement of each patient.