All issues > Volume 37(5); 1994

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1994;37(5):689-694. Published online May 15, 1994.

The Clinical Study of 10 Cases of Tsutsugamushi Fever

Dong Gyu DG Lee¹, Sung Hak SH Kim¹, Byung Keun BK Han¹, Kyung Ho KH Lee¹, Cheol Hee CH Hwang¹, Moon Ki MK Cho¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, St. Columban Hospital, Mokpo, Korea

Abstract

In Korean, there has been an increasing concern on rickettsiosis as a possile common cause of unkonwn febrile illness since Tsutsugamushi fever among koreans was reported first in1986. We experienced 10 cases of Tsutsugamushi fever ocurring in the Mokpo area during the period of 3 months(Oct. to Dec.) in 1990, which were diagnosed clinically and serologically by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. The following results were obtained. The most frequent symptoms were fever(100%), headache(90%), chill(60%), conjunctival injection, and lymphadenopathy. Common laboratory findings were leukopenia (WBC<5000/mm3, 30%), elevated ESR(>20mm/hr, 30%), positive CRP(60%), and elevated ALT/AST. Antibody titers against R. tsutsugamushi ranged from 1:80 to 1:1,280, but they showed no antibody reaction to Hantaan virus and leptospira. All patients showed good response to antibiotic therapy with chloramphenicol.

Keywords :Tsutsugamushi fever