Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0495
ISSN: 2161-0495
Maha khalid Almazroua
Director of The Regional Poison Control Center, Dammam, KSA
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clinic Toxicol
Tropical fevers with organ failure is one of the leading cause of ICU admissions in India 1 . Commonest tropical fevers that leads to organ failure and ICU admission are Malaria, Dengue and Enteric fever 2. Scrub typhus and Leptospiral disease are less common and are oYen missed. Scrub typhus is caused by intracellular parasite Orienta tsutsugamushi belonging to ricke\sia group, arthropod Tromiculid mite is a vector for this disease. It is endemic in Asia-pacific region being less common in India. Scrub typhus is manifested with fever, headache, myalgia and flu like symptoms, approximately 5-14 days of being bi\en by infected trombiculid mite. An eschar at the site of the bite is a classical feature of the disease as shown in the figure. It begins as a papule, which ulcerates and then form a dark scar, like a cigare\e burn. It is mainly seen in the anterior part of the body 3 . Severe complicaAons include liver failure, acute kidney injury, acute lung injury. OYen paAents can have severe neurological manifestaAons such as encephaliAs and meningiAs. The mortality rate is between 6% - 70% 4 . DiagnosAc test for scrub typhus includes indirect immunofluorescence test, indirect immune-peroxidase assay, ELISA test, immunochromatographic test. Immunofluorescence test and ELISA test are quick, high specificity (84%-100%) with sensiAvity of (70%- 100%). Cell culture and anAgen detecAon has high specificity (100%), with low sensiAvity (50%) it is Ame consuming and expensive. Treatment consists of Doxycycline for 10 days. Azithromycin is an alternate drug.
Dr. Maha Almazroua has completed her MSc in Toxicology & Forensic Sciences at JUST University, School of Forensic Medicine. She is the director of The Regional Poison Control Center, Dammam, KSA, She is the Founder of the 1st National Toxicology System & Central Database OTARR (Online Toxicology Analysis Request & Result), MSK (Maha Smart Kit) & NAFSA (National Forensic Sciences Academy) . She is also the General Secretary and Board Member of Saudi Toxicology Society (STS) Omalqura University, member of the Scientific Board of the Arab Society for Forensic Sciences and Forensic Medicine (ASFSFM), Temporarly consultat at WHO ,and Chairwoman of the annual international KSAPT Conference (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities in Pharmacy and Toxicology).