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Jian H, Yang QX, Duan JX, Lai SY, Che GL, Teng J, Chang L, Liu XJ, Luo LL, Liu F. mNGS helped diagnose scrub typhus-associated HLH in children: a report of two cases. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1321123. [PMID: 38784570 PMCID: PMC11111966 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1321123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Scrub typhus, caused by the Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot), is a widespread vector-borne disease transmitted by chigger mites. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is considered to be one of the potentially severe complications. The diagnosis of scrub typhus-associated HLH may be overlooked due to the non-specific clinical characteristics and the absence of pathognomonic eschar. Case presentation We obtained clinical data from two patients in the South of Sichuan, China. The first case involved a 6-year-old girl who exhibited an unexplained fever and was initially diagnosed with sepsis, HLH, and pulmonary infection. The other patient presented a more severe condition characterized by multiple organ dysfunction and was initially diagnosed with septic shock, sepsis, HLH, acute kidney injury (AKI), and pulmonary infection. At first, a specific examination for scrub typhus was not performed due to the absence of a characteristic eschar. Conventional peripheral blood cultures yielded negative results in both patients, and neither of them responded to routine antibiotics. Fortunately, the causative pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) was detected in the plasma samples of both patients using metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, they both were treated with doxycycline and recovered quickly. Conclusion The unbiased mNGS provided a clinically actionable diagnosis for an uncommon pathogen-associated infectious disease that had previously evaded conventional diagnostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiu-xia Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jia-xin Duan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shu-yu Lai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guang-lu Che
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Teng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Chang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao-juan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li-li Luo
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Liang P, Su Z, Chen M, Li S. Congenital scrub typhus: a case report and literature review. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1251746. [PMID: 38054188 PMCID: PMC10694191 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1251746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to analyze the clinical course of a newborn with congenital scrub typhus caused by vertical transmission and explore early diagnosis and treatment strategies. The clinical data of the neonate were retrospectively analyzed and the related literature was reviewed. Case presentation The newborn was a full-term one, with a good Apgar score at birth. The neonate had apnea at 3 h of life, requiring NICU care and IV antibiotics (piperacillin) for suspected sepsis. An examination revealed hepatosplenomegaly. Blood tests revealed anemia and thrombocytopenia and a chest x-ray showed patchy inflammation. On the second day of life, he developed a fever. On the third day of life, he required mechanical ventilation because his condition worsened after he presented with dyspnea, hypotension, depressed sensorium, and other signs of sepsis. Importantly, the neonate's mother had a history of scrub typhus at 31+ weeks of gestation. While the blood culture result was still pending, high-throughput sequencing of blood and cerebrospinal fluid was performed. To address the suspected scrub typhus infection, oral azithromycin dry suspension was added to the treatment regimen. High-throughput sequencing results on the 5th day of life confirmed a significant presence of 16SrRNA sequences in the blood, suggesting an Orientia tsutsugamushi infection. The neonate steadily recovered and was discharged 16 days after hospitalization. The neonate was followed up for 9 months, and the outcome was favorable with normal growth and development. Conclusions This article reports a case of congenital Orientia tsutsugamushi infection, a rare condition caused by vertical transmission. Our review of the literature, combined with the presented case, brings the total number of documented congenital scrub typhus cases caused by vertical transmission to eight. Regrettably, one patient from this group unexpectedly died on the 10th day of hospitalization, resulting in a mortality rate of 12.5% (1/8). The special transmission mode and clinical manifestations of this disease will serve as an alert to doctors for timely diagnosis and treatment. Because of the non-specific clinical manifestations of congenital scrub typhus, limited understanding, low index of suspicion among clinicians, and a lack of diagnostic facilities, scrub typhus is seriously underdiagnosed in pregnant women, fetuses, and neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinghua Liang
- Department of Pediatrics, Yuexi Hospital of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (Xinyi People’s Hospital), Xinyi, China
| | - Zengling Su
- Department of Pediatrics, Yuexi Hospital of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (Xinyi People’s Hospital), Xinyi, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sitao Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Yuexi Hospital of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (Xinyi People’s Hospital), Xinyi, China
- Department of Pediatrics, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Cao Y, Liu P, Song Q, Wang J. Case report: A case of sepsis caused by rickettsial infection-induced hemophagocytic syndrome. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1209174. [PMID: 37608831 PMCID: PMC10440429 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1209174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare histiocytic disorder characterized by reactive hyperplasia of the mononuclear phagocytic system, which is primarily caused by dysfunction of cytotoxic killer cells and natural killer cells, leading to antigen clearance barriers and the overactivation of the mononuclear phagocytic system due to continuous antigen stimulation. HLH encompasses a group of clinical syndromes marked by the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines. A 68-year-old Chinese man presented with persistent fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting; the patient had no history of any underlying conditions. Laboratory investigations revealed decreased levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, along with reduced natural killer cell activity, increased CD25, hyperferritinemia, and the detection of Rickettsia DNA in his blood, meeting the diagnostic criteria of the Histiocyte Society HLH-2004 guidelines. The patient was treated with antibiotics, improving anemia, glucocorticoid therapy, and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), temporarily improving his condition. However, the patient died after 2 years from chronic renal failure caused by septic shock.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jing Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi, China
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Wang Z, Zhang W, Lu N, Lv R, Wang J, Zhu C, Ai L, Mao Y, Tan W, Qi Y. A potential tool for predicting epidemic trends and outbreaks of scrub typhus based on Internet search big data analysis in Yunnan Province, China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1004462. [PMID: 36530696 PMCID: PMC9751444 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1004462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a neglected tropical disease. The southern part of China is considered an important epidemic and conserved area of scrub typhus. Although a surveillance system has been established, the surveillance of scrub typhus is typically delayed or incomplete and cannot predict trends in morbidity. Internet search data intuitively expose the public's attention to certain diseases when used in the public health area, thus reflecting the prevalence of the diseases. Methods In this study, based on the Internet search big data and historical scrub typhus incidence data in Yunnan Province of China, the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and ARIMA with external variables (ARIMAX) model were constructed and compared to predict the scrub typhus incidence. Results The results showed that the ARIMAX model produced a better outcome than the ARIMA model evaluated by various indexes and comparisons with the actual data. Conclusions The study demonstrates that Internet search big data can enhance the traditional surveillance system in monitoring and predicting the prevalence of scrub typhus and provides a potential tool for monitoring epidemic trends of scrub typhus and early warning of its outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixu Wang
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Wenyi Zhang
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Nianhong Lu
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruichen Lv
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Junhu Wang
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Changqiang Zhu
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Lele Ai
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingqing Mao
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China
| | - Weilong Tan
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Weilong Tan
| | - Yong Qi
- Huadong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechniques, Nanjing, China,Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, China,Yong Qi
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Hosahalli Vasanna S, Lim PPC, Khan TS, Dalal J. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever in a toddler: A case report. EJHAEM 2022; 3:463-466. [PMID: 35846066 PMCID: PMC9175780 DOI: 10.1002/jha2.405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A three-year-old boy presented with fever, maculopapular rash involving palms and soles, and hyponatremia two weeks following a tick bite. Empiric doxycycline that he was on was discontinued following negative initial rickettsial serology based on the non-endemicity of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in Northeast Ohio. He demonstrated high inflammatory markers and met the criteria for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). With a working diagnosis of macrophage activation syndrome secondary to presumed systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (soJIA), he received HLH-directed therapy. Rising antibody titers in convalescent sera established the diagnosis of RMSF. The patient recovered completely with HLH directed therapy and re-institution of doxycycline. This is the first pediatric case report of Rickettsia rickettsii induced HLH demonstrating a favorable outcome despite modified therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Hosahalli Vasanna
- Department of Pediatric Hematology‐OncologyRainbow Babies and Children's Hospital/ University HospitalsClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Peter Paul C. Lim
- Department of Pediatric Infectious DiseasesRainbow Babies and Children's Hospital/University HospitalsClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Tanya Saeeda Khan
- Department of PediatricsRainbow Babies and Childreny's Hospital/University HospitalsClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Jignesh Dalal
- Department of Pediatric Hematology‐OncologyRainbow Babies and Children's Hospital/ University HospitalsClevelandOhioUSA
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Basu A, Chowdhoury SR, Sarkar M, Khemka A, Mondal R, Datta K, Mondal K. Scrub Typhus-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Not a Rare Entity in Pediatric Age Group. J Trop Pediatr 2021; 67:6129646. [PMID: 33547467 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmab001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our goal was to study the demographic, clinical and laboratory profile and outcome of scrub typhus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in the pediatric age group. METHODS We conducted a prospective observational study in a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 1 year. Children in the age group of 1 month to 12 years with IgM ELISA positive for scrub typhus were included in the study. HLH was diagnosed using HLH-2004 criteria. Demographic, clinical and laboratory profile, treatment and outcome of HLH patients were noted and also compared with non-HLH scrub typhus patients. RESULTS Among 58 children with scrub typhus infection, 18 had HLH. The mean age of patients with HLH was 35.3 ± 44.8 months and 61% were male. Anemia, thrombocytopenia and hyperferritinemia were seen in all the patients. Hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia and coagulopathy were noted in 78%, 56% and 44%, respectively. All the patients were treated with intravenous doxycycline for an average duration of 9.5 days. Intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone were given in 33% and 22% cases, respectively. Complications like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (p = 0.001) and MODS (p = 0.004) were significantly high in the HLH group. Younger age (<3 years), fever > 7 days, presence of convulsion, ARDS and MODS were the clinical predictors of scrub typhus-associated HLH. CONCLUSION HLH in scrub typhus infected children is being increasingly recognized. Younger age, prolonged fever, presence of convulsion, ARDS and MODS should alert clinicians of the risk of HLH. Treating the primary cause usually cures the disease and immunomodulator therapy need not be routinely administered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankika Basu
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India
| | | | - Mihir Sarkar
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India
| | - Arpita Khemka
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India
| | - Rakesh Mondal
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India
| | - Kalpana Datta
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India
| | - Kalyanbrata Mondal
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India
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Kispotta R, Kasinathan A, Kumar Kommu PP, Manikandan M. Analysis of 262 Children with Scrub Typhus Infection: A Single-Center Experience. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 104:622-627. [PMID: 33219642 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus, a vector-borne rickettsiosis, is the leading treatable cause of non-malarial febrile illness in Asia. The myriad of typical and atypical features poses a clinical conundrum. We aimed to study the clinical and laboratory profile of children with scrub typhus infection diagnosed by IgM ELISA. Data of children < 12 years presenting with undifferentiated fever to the pediatric services of a tertiary teaching institute between January 2012 and December 2018 were retrieved. Children with seropositive IgM ELISA (InBios International Kit) for scrub typhus were enrolled in the study. Clinical features, laboratory investigations, treatment received, and the outcome recorded were obtained. Objective evidence of organ dysfunction was taken as severe scrub typhus. In total, 262 children were diagnosed with scrub typhus. The mean age was 5 years, with male preponderance (65%). And, 13 children presented during infancy. Fever was universal, and generalized lymphadenopathy (93.5%) and hepatomegaly (70%) were the common clinical signs. Eschar was identified in 31%, with greater predilection for groin and axilla. Thrombocytopenia was striking in one-third of children. Also, 25 children (9.5%) had severe scrub typhus and 18 required intensive care stay. Elevated aspartate aminotransferase enzyme levels was a predictor of severity ([OR 3.9], P value 0.005) by multivariate analysis. Lymphadenopathy was found significantly associated with eschar (P < 0.005). No mortality was recorded. This 6-year study underscores the varied spectrum of pediatric scrub typhus infection. Zero mortality in our cohort signifies the excellent outcome with judicious first-line antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Kispotta
- Department of Pediatrics, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India
| | | | | | - M Manikandan
- Department of Community Medicine, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India
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