배 경 : Orientia tsutsugamushi에 의한 인체 감염은 혈액과 임파선을 타고 전신에 퍼져 혈관 염을 일으켜, 전신 장기의 침범 소견을 보인다. 그러나 아직 까지 전신 장기 침범에 대한 임상 소견 및 검사 결과의 전향적인 추적 관찰에 대한 연구는 거의 없는 실정이다. 재료 및 방법 : 조선대학교병원에 내원한 환자 중 확진법(gold standard)인 간접형광항체법(IFA)으로 확인된 76명의 환자를 대상으로 내원시 임상 양상 및 검사 결과의 평가 및 치료 후 검사 결과의 변화에 대한 전향적인 연구를 수행하였다. 결 과 : 대부분의 환자에서 발열, 갈증, 전신 쇠약감, 두통을 호소하였으며, 특이 할만한 소견으로 현재까지 보고 되지 않았지만, 대부분의 환자가 갈증을 심하게 호소한다는 것이다. 3명의 젊은 건강한 환자를 제외한 대부분의 환자에서 이러한 갈증 증상을 호소하였으며, 이러한 갈증은 발열이 호전되어도 지속되었으며, 퇴원 이후에 까지 지속되는 양상을 보였다. 혈액검사상 scrub typhus 초기에 나타날 수 있는 신기능 장애 및 간 기능 장애는 대부분 가역적으로 적절한 항생제 투여 후 모두 정상으로 회복됨을 확인할 수 있었다. 혈액 검사상 CRP, LDH, AST가 대부분의 환자에서 상승하였고, 특히 LDH의 상승이 100% 환자에서 관찰된 것은 특이할 만 한데 적절한 치료 후 CRP는 신속히 호전을 보이나, LDH는 서서히 호전됨을 확인하였다. DIC 검사상 DIC는 입원환자의 95.5%에서 확인되었으나, 비교적 일부의 환자에서 출혈 및 경색이 초래되는 것으로 생각된다.

Background:Orientia tsutsugamushi spreads to the entire body through the blood and lymphatics, and it induces vasculitis that results in the patients manifesting symptoms of systemic organ involvement. Materials and Methods:We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the clinical manifestations and the change of the laboratory results after instituting treatment for scrub typhus. Results:Most patients presented with fever (100%), malaise (96.1%) and thirst (96.1%). It was remarkable that most patients presented with severe thirst, except for 3 healthy, young patients. This thirst was persistent even after the resolution of fever. The renal and hepatic dysfunction were reversible after the administration of appropriate antibiotics. For the blood testing, it was deteded that the CRP, and LDH were elevated in most patients (95.9% and 100% respectively). DIC could be diagnosed in 95.5% of the patients at the time of admission Conclusion:Most patients presented with fever, malaise and severe thirst, and the renal and hepatic dysfunction were reversible after the administration of appropriate antibiotics. DIC was observed in most of our patients, but hemorrhage and infarction were not present. CRP showed a rapid improvement, nonetheless, the LDH and DIC test results improved slowly.

Background:Orientia tsutsugamushi spreads to the entire body through the blood and lymphatics, and it induces vasculitis that results in the patients manifesting symptoms of systemic organ involvement. Materials and Methods:We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the clinical manifestations and the change of the laboratory results after instituting treatment for scrub typhus. Results:Most patients presented with fever (100%), malaise (96.1%) and thirst (96.1%). It was remarkable that most patients presented with severe thirst, except for 3 healthy, young patients. This thirst was persistent even after the resolution of fever. The renal and hepatic dysfunction were reversible after the administration of appropriate antibiotics. For the blood testing, it was deteded that the CRP, and LDH were elevated in most patients (95.9% and 100% respectively). DIC could be diagnosed in 95.5% of the patients at the time of admission Conclusion:Most patients presented with fever, malaise and severe thirst, and the renal and hepatic dysfunction were reversible after the administration of appropriate antibiotics. DIC was observed in most of our patients, but hemorrhage and infarction were not present. CRP showed a rapid improvement, nonetheless, the LDH and DIC test results improved slowly.

Scrub typhus, Signs and symptoms, Clinical chemistry tests