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Source: The post is based on the article “Scrub typhus: combination therapy can save more lives” published in The Hindu on 6th March 2023.
What is the News?
A team of researchers from Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and PGIMER Chandigarh found that an antibiotic combo is best for severe scrub typhus.
What is Scrub Typhus?
![Scrub Typhus](https://i0.wp.com/forumias.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Science.jpg?resize=413%2C232&ssl=1)
Scrub Typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi.
Transmission: Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites).
Symptoms: The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash.
Cases of Scrub typhus: It is a major public health threat in South and Southeast Asia. As per estimates, nearly one million cases are reported from South and Southeast Asia with 10% mortality. India is one of the hotspots with at least 25% of the disease burden.
Treatment: Scrub typhus should be treated with antibiotics. No vaccine is available to prevent scrub typhus.
What did the researchers find about the treatment against Scrub Typhus?
Researchers found that a combination of antibiotic treatment (with intravenous doxycycline and azithromycin) is more effective for treating Severe Scrub Typhus than single-drug therapies.