Scrub typhus is endemic and re-emerging in eastern and southern Asia. Illness varies from mild and self-limiting to fatal. Only few studies were published about its effect in maternal and neonatal outcome. A retrospective analysis was done in six prenatal and two postnatal women with
scrub typhus. Details about clinical presentation, investigations, treatment given, response to treatment and pregnancy outcome were collected. The common symptoms were
fever with
chills,
vomiting,
myalgia,
headache and
abdominal pain. Typical features of eschar and
lymphadenopathy were noted in only two cases. Two patients presented with
jaundice and altered liver function test. Two patients presented with
breathlessness. One patient developed
oligohydramnios. Two postnatal women developed
scrub typhus following
blood transfusion for postpartum haemorrhage. Because of its high prevalence,
scrub typhus should be included in
fever investigations in endemic areas, even in the absence of eschar. Early diagnosis of cases will help in less severe organ damage and easy recovery with
antibiotics. Few evidences state that
scrub typhus can spread through
blood transfusion. Correlation between
blood transfusion and
scrub typhus has to be further evaluated.