Rickettsia tsutsugamushi
Quick Summary
Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, now classified as Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a bacterium that causes scrub typhus. This acute, febrile bacterial disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mite larvae, often called chiggers. These mites acquire the bacteria from wild rodents or other small animals.123
Scrub typhus is prevalent in Southeast Asia, parts of Australia, and Japan. Symptoms typically appear 10–12 days after a bite and include headache, fever, chills, swollen lymph glands, and a rash. Without treatment, scrub typhus can be fatal, but it is effectively treated with antibiotics like chloramphenicol or tetracyclines. During World War II, scrub typhus incapacitated many troops in the Pacific theater.23
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