A Study of Scrub Typhus in Dengue Fever Suspects in Chiayi County

Chen H.L

1992 Vol.8 NO.9

Correspondence Author：

Abstract：

Scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease) is one of the reportable diseases in Taiwan. It is an acute febrile eruptive disease caused by the infection of Rickettsia. In recent years, most cases of scrub typhus have been reported primarily from Penghu, Hualien and Taitung counties, only a few cases from other counties. However, in September 1991, positive cases of scrub typhus were identified from specimens of suspected dengue fever patients in Chiayi County. Serum specimens of all suspected dengue fever patients in Chiayi County between January 1991 and June 1992 were, therefore, tested for scrub typhus antibody. Of the 15 cases, seven were identified positive, giving a positive rate of 47%. These seven positives all live in the mountainous townships, giving a positive rate of 77% among cases living in the mountainous townships districts. Of the 15 patients, only one was dengue fever positive case. There was no duplication of diseases among the seven scrub typhus cases so identified