Objective: To study the clinical profile of children with scrub typhus and its association with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
Methods: Children presenting with unexplained fever and multi-systemic involvement between May to December 2011 were tested for scrub typhus using IgM ELISA kits. Occurrence of Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in IgM positive cases of scrub typhus was studied.
Results: Of the 35 children with unexplained fever and multi-systemic involvement, 15 children (9 boys) tested positive for scrub typhus. Thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia and raised hepatic transaminases were observed in all children. Out of seven children evaluated for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. 3 met the criteria for hemophagocytosis. Two children (one with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis) died.
Conclusions: Scrub typhus is a common cause of unexplained fever in children in northern India. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis can occasionally complicate scrub typhus in children.