Predictors of severity of scrub typhus in the Indian subcontinent
Journal Title: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease - Year 2014, Vol 4, Issue 0
Abstract
Objective: To identify the factors for predicting severity in scrub typhus which is an acute febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Methods: A prospective study of 220 patients with scrub typhus was conducted at Kasturba hospital during May 2012 to April 2013, out of which 116 patients were in the severe disease group and 104 in the non-severe group. Results: Using univariate analysis, the presence of the following factors, namely age>40 years, haemoglobin<1 2 g/L, white blood cell count>1 0 000 cells/mm3, platelet<1 50 000 cells/mm3, albumin<3.5 g/dL and the absence of eschar were correlated with severe disease. However, on multivariate analysis, haemoglobin<12 g/dL (OR=2; P=0.037; CI=1.04-3.82); white blood cell count>10 000 cells/mm3 (OR=3; P=0.001; CI=1.5-5.8), platelet<150 000 cell/mm3 (OR=6.2; P<0.001; CI=3.1-12.4) and absence of eschar (OR=0.4; P=0.01; CI=0.2-0.8) were found to be predictors of severity. Conclusions: We conclude haemoglobin<12 g/dL, WBC count>10 000/mm3, platelet<150 000/mm3 and absence of eschar to be independent predictors of severity of illness in scrub typhus.
Antimutagenic and antibacterial activities of Peltophorum ferrugineum flower extracts
Objective: To study the antibacterial and antimutagenic properties of the Peltophorum ferrugineum flower extracts. Methods: Dried flowers of P. ferrugineum were extracted successively with hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone...
In vitro antimicrobial activity of Achyranthes coynei Sant.
Objective: To validate the traditional use of Achyranthes coynei (A. coynei) Sant. as an antimicrobial in treatment of various infectious diseases. Methods: Leaf extracts of A. coynei obtained through successive solvent...
Effect of embelin on lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in albino rats
Objective: To evaluate the nephroprotective and anti-polyuric role of embelin on lithium induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) in albino rats. Methods: NDI induced by lithium chloride (4 meq/kg/day, i.p. for 6 day...
Susceptibility status of Culex pipiens against deltamethrin and DDT, Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran
Objective: To determine the susceptibility status of Culex pipiens (Cx. pipiens) against two important and widely used insecticides (deltamethrin and DDT) in Urmia County, the main city of West Azerbaijan Province, north...
An epidemiological study on the drug resistance of Escherichia coli strains isolated from women patients with urinary tract infection in Shalamzar, Iran
Objective: To investigate drug resistance of various strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria isolated from female patients with urinary tracts infections (UTIs) in Shalamzar, Iran. Methods: This study was conducte...