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Imad HA, Ali AA, Nahuza M, Gurung R, Ubaid A, Maeesha A, Didi SA, Dey RK, Hilmy AI, Hareera A, Afzal I, Matsee W, Nguitragool W, Nakayama EE, Shioda T. Acalculous Cholecystitis in a Young Adult with Scrub Typhus: A Case Report and Epidemiology of Scrub Typhus in the Maldives. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6040208. [PMID: 34941664 PMCID: PMC8707333 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6040208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is a neglected tropical disease predominantly occurring in Asia. The causative agent is a bacterium transmitted by the larval stage of mites found in rural vegetation in endemic regions. Cases of scrub typhus frequently present as acute undifferentiated febrile illness, and without early diagnosis and treatment, the disease can develop fatal complications. We retrospectively reviewed de-identified data from a 23-year-old woman who presented to an emergency department with complaints of worsening abdominal pain. On presentation, she appeared jaundiced and toxic-looking. Other positive findings on abdominal examination were a positive Murphey’s sign, abdominal guarding and hepatosplenomegaly. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography demonstrated acalculous cholecystitis. Additional findings included eschar on the medial aspect of the left thigh with inguinal regional lymphadenopathy. Further, positive results were obtained for immunoglobulins M and G, confirming scrub typhus. The workup for other infectious causes of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) detected antibodies against human herpesvirus 4 (Epstein–Barr virus), suggesting an alternative cause of AAC. Whether that represented re-activation of the Epstein–Barr virus could not be determined. As other reports have described acute acalculous cholecystitis in adult scrub typhus patients, we recommend doxycycline to treat acute acalculous cholecystitis in endemic regions while awaiting serological confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisham Ahmed Imad
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
- Department of Viral Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (E.E.N.); (T.S.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +66-631501402
| | - Aishath Azna Ali
- Department of Surgery, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.A.A.); (M.N.); (R.G.); (A.U.)
| | - Mariyam Nahuza
- Department of Surgery, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.A.A.); (M.N.); (R.G.); (A.U.)
| | - Rajan Gurung
- Department of Surgery, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.A.A.); (M.N.); (R.G.); (A.U.)
| | - Abdulla Ubaid
- Department of Surgery, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.A.A.); (M.N.); (R.G.); (A.U.)
| | - Aishath Maeesha
- Department of Medicine, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.M.); (S.A.D.); (R.K.D.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Sariu Ali Didi
- Department of Medicine, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.M.); (S.A.D.); (R.K.D.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Rajib Kumar Dey
- Department of Medicine, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.M.); (S.A.D.); (R.K.D.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Abdullah Isneen Hilmy
- Department of Medicine, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.M.); (S.A.D.); (R.K.D.); (A.I.H.)
- Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7935, South Africa
| | - Aishath Hareera
- Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Public Health, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.H.); (I.A.)
| | - Ibrahim Afzal
- Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Public Health, Malé 20002, Maldives; (A.H.); (I.A.)
| | - Wasin Matsee
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Emi. E. Nakayama
- Department of Viral Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (E.E.N.); (T.S.)
| | - Tatsuo Shioda
- Department of Viral Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (E.E.N.); (T.S.)
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