With the onset of the rainy season, the number of scrub typhus cases has started to rise. So far, 526 cases have been reported in the state. The highest number of cases, 120, has been recorded in Udaipur alone. So far no deaths have been recorded in the state due to scrub typhus. 

What is Srub Typhus?

Scrub typhus is a bacterial infection caused by "Orientia tsutsugamushi." This disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected chiggers, which are tiny, larval-stage mites. Scrub typhus is more common during the rainy season. This is notable because scrub typhus is more dangerous than dengue and typically has a higher mortality rate.

Symptoms of Scrub Typhus
Symptoms usually develop 1 to 2 weeks after the bite and may include: Fever and chills, headache, mucle aches and body pain, rash, swollen lymph nodes, eschar (a dark, scab-like sore at the bite site). In severe cases, scrub typhus can cause serious complications like organ failure, pneumonia, or brain inflammation (encephalitis).

Prevention
To prevent scrub typhus, it is important to avoid bites from infected chiggers. Preventive measures include:

• Wearing protective clothing.
• Using insect repellent on skin and clothing.
• Staying away from areas where chiggers are likely to live.

Jaipur, the capital city, has also reported 80 cases. Some districts, including Nagaur, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jodhpur, Pali, Jaisalmer, and Barmer, have not reported any cases yet. These districts usually experience less rainfall, which might explain the absence of scrub typhus cases.

Source: Dainik Bhaskar