Scrub typhus and dengue coinfection in a 17-month-old child

Abstract

Scrub typhus is reemerging as a worldwide threat. In the tropical countries, where other diseases with overlapping clinical features are abundant, the occurrence of scrub typhus poses to be a significant problem to the clinician. We describe the case of a 17-monthold
child who was diagnosed to be having a coinfection of scrub typhus and dengue. Various similar complications such as capillary leakage, thrombocytopenia, and possibility of seizure found in both the diseases, make such a coinfection very risky. The child was managed with oral azithromycin and fluid support. He became afebrile after 60 h and was discharged after 8 days. This case report will alert the pediatricians to anticipate the rare possibility of coinfection with scrub typhus and dengue fever.