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Patterns of Scrub Typhus tests prescribed among the three Hospitals in Zhemgang District, 2019-2020: A record-based laboratory review study.
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  • Karma Norbu,
  • Karma Dema,
  • Kuenga Choden,
  • Tshewang Gyeltshen
Karma Norbu
Yebilaptsa Hospital, Zhemgang

Corresponding Author:karmanorbu505@gmail.com

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Karma Dema
Yebilaptsa Hospital
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Kuenga Choden
Tsirang Hospital, Tsirang
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Tshewang Gyeltshen
St Luke's International University
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Abstract

Introduction: Scrub typhus is a neglected life threatening acute febrile illness caused by bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi and it is a vector-borne zoonotic disease. In 2009, scrub typhus outbreak at Gedu has awakened Bhutan on the awareness and testing of the disease.Information and data of the study highlights the need for in depth surveillance, awareness among prescribers and initiate preventive measures in the country. Methods: We used retrospective descriptive study through review of laboratory registers across three health centres in Zhemgang district, south central Bhutan. The laboratories registers have been transcribed into CSV file using Microsoft excel. Variables of interest were collected from the registers and then analysed using open statistical software R, (R Core Team (2020). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.) And use of mStats package, (MyoMinnOo (2020). mStats: Epidemiological DataAnalysis. R package version 3.4.0.) Results: Of the total 922 tests prescribed for suspected scrub typhus in the three health centers in Zhemgang, only 8.2 % (n=76) were tested positive. Of these, Panbang Hospital had highest reported positive for scrub typhus with 56.6 %( n=43) followed by Yebilaptsa Hospital 35.5 %( n=27) and Zhemgang Hospital with 7.9 %( n=6). The female gender is comparably more affected as opposed to male with 57.9% (n=44) of the positive cases being female. The prevalence of scrub typhus seems to be affected by the seasonal variation as the months of Spring, Summer and Autumn together accounts for 98.7%(n=75) of total positive cases. The year 2019 noted significant scrub typhus cases accounting to 89.5 %(n=68) of the total positive cases over the two years. Conclusions:The overall tests tested positive of the scrub typhus infection within two years was 8.2%.
16 Jan 2023Submitted to Public Health Challenges
18 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
18 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
07 Apr 20231st Revision Received
13 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
13 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
13 Apr 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
03 May 20232nd Revision Received
04 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
04 May 2023Assigned to Editor
09 May 2023Editorial Decision: Accept
Jun 2023Published in Public Health Challenges volume 2 issue 2. 10.1002/puh2.98