Scrub Typhus in Andhra Pradesh: High Alert

You might think fever is a common thing, perhaps malaria, dengue, or seasonal flu. But right now in Andhra Pradesh, a little-known disease called scrub typhus is silently spreading. It's scary how many people don't realize what they have until it gets worse. This illness may start out as a simple fever, but if you don't recognize it early, it can lead to dangerous complications and death.

What is Scrub Typhus?

Scrub typhus is a bacterial infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is spread through the bites of small infected insects commonly found in bushes, fields and grassy areas throughout Andhra Pradesh. The disease usually starts as a simple fever, but if not treated early, it can affect major organs such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain.

How to Recognise Scrub Typhus?

You may ask, how do you know if it's not just a common fever?

Here are scrub typhus symptoms:

Sudden high fever that doesn't go down easily.
Severe headache, muscle or body aches, feeling weak, general body aches.
Sometimes, a rash or skin changes may appear. In most cases, a small but dark scab-like patch (called an eschar) appears at the site of the mite bite. This spot is painless and can be easily missed, especially if it is on dark skin or in a hidden area (such as the armpits, groin, or lower back).
Other symptoms may include cough, gastrointestinal discomfort (nausea, vomiting, stomach pain), or general fatigue.

That is why doctors are forced to think about scrub typhus when the fever persists, and routine tests come back negative.

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What’s Happening Now in Andhra Pradesh?

Scrub typhus cases have been on the rise in several districts of Andhra Pradesh recently.

District	Number of Cases
Chittoor	379
Kakinada	141
Visakhapatnam	123
YSR Kadapa	94
Nellore	86
Anantapur	68
Tirupati	64
Vizianagaram	59
Kurnool	42
Anakapalle	41
Srikakulam	34
Annamayya	32
Guntur	31
Nandyal	30

In fact, the outbreak has now spread to almost the entire state, affecting many rural and semi-urban communities.

This increase shows that scrub typhus is no longer a rare, sporadic illness. It is becoming a serious public health challenge in Andhra Pradesh.

What are Medicover Doctors Recommending?

Our medical experts across the state are urging everyone to take a persistent fever seriously. Many early cases of scrub typhus are mistaken for common illnesses such as malaria, dengue, or typhoid.

Due to this confusion, official guidance now includes:

Consider scrub typhus if the fever does not subside within two days, especially after a negative malaria or dengue test.
If you notice a dark scab or black spot (eschar) on your body or an unusual rash during or after the fever, get tested immediately.
Doctors are recommending rapid diagnostic testing (serology / ELISA / other appropriate tests) instead of waiting.

Prompt diagnosis and prompt treatment can dramatically reduce the risk of complications. Experts warn that delay or misdiagnosis increases the chances of complications, so early action is important.

Scrub Typhus Treatment

If you or someone you know shows these signs, here's what to do:

Visit a trusted hospital first. If you're in Andhra Pradesh, contact the main hospital in your area.
Doctors will recommend a blood test, usually an IgM/IgG ELISA or other serology/PCR test, to confirm the diagnosis.
Once confirmed (or if there is a strong suspicion), treatment usually involves antibiotics. The drug of choice is doxycycline, which is often very effective when started early.
For those who cannot take doxycycline (such as pregnant women), alternatives such as azithromycin can be used.
In most cases, when treatment is started early, patients improve within a couple of days and make a full recovery.
But if left untreated or treatment is delayed, the infection can get worse, affecting the lungs, liver, kidneys, or even the brain; complications such as severe organ failure, lung problems, or neurological problems are possible, which can lead to death.

So, if the fever persists for more than a few days and does not respond to normal care, don't wait. Get to the hospital immediately.

Final Thoughts

Scrub typhus is not a disease you should ignore, especially now that it is spreading in several districts of Andhra Pradesh. But there is one good thing: it can be largely cured with early detection and prompt treatment.

Be vigilant if you live in or around affected areas or if you work outdoors. Watch out for persistent fever or strange skin signs, and don't dismiss them as a simple fever.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Scrub typhus is caused by infected chigger mites (larval stage of Trombiculid mites). They are usually found in bushy, grassy, and agricultural areas, which is why farmers and field workers are more at risk.

Scrub Typhus is spreading due to exposure to infected mites in fields and bushy areas across the state. More people are working outdoors, and many do not recognize symptoms early, leading to more reported cases.

Chittoor, Kakinada, and Visakhapatnam are currently the worst-affected, along with cases increasing in Kadapa, Nellore, Anantapur, Tirupati, Vizianagaram, and nearby regions.

You may notice high fever, headache, tiredness, body pains, and sometimes a small black scab or rash on the skin where the mite has bitten.

A blood test, such as an IgM ELISA, is used to detect the infection when the fever does not respond to usual treatment.

Yes. When identified early, Scrub Typhus responds very well to antibiotics like doxycycline or azithromycin.

Delayed treatment can lead to lung, liver, kidney issues, or nervous system problems, which may become life-threatening.

Farmers, field workers, people living near vegetation, and anyone exposed to bushes or grasslands are at higher risk.

If fever continues beyond 48-72 hours, especially after testing negative for dengue or malaria, or if you see a black scab on the skin.

Wear covered clothing outdoors, use repellents, avoid sitting on soil or grass, and clean bushy surroundings.

Yes. Medicover Hospitals across Andhra Pradesh offer accurate diagnosis, early treatment options and expert care for Scrub Typhus.

Most scrub typhus cases occur in rural, vegetated areas where infected chigger mites live, particularly in rice fields, scrubland, and forest fringes.The highest burden is in the Asia–Pacific tsutsugamushi triangle, covering countries such as India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and northern Australia.

Andhra Pradesh is seeing more scrub typhus because rural and semi‑urban populations are heavily exposed to mite‑infested vegetation, especially in paddy fields and bushes after the monsoon and in cool, humid weather.Increased awareness and testing, combined with people initially mistaking scrub typhus for common viral fevers like dengue or flu, are contributing both to a real rise in infections and better detection.

Health authorities in Andhra Pradesh have reported scrub typhus cases from almost all districts, with high numbers in Chittoor, Kakinada, and Visakhapatnam, prompting a state‑level alert and emergency‑style response. The government’s concern is that delayed diagnosis can lead to serious complications (lung, brain, and kidney involvement) and a higher death risk, so they have intensified surveillance, public awareness, and treatment protocols similar to a medical emergency.

Currently, Andhra Pradesh is the Indian state experiencing a pronounced surge in scrub typhus cases, with hundreds of confirmed infections and all or nearly all districts affected. National surveillance data and recent media reports also note cases in other states, but the present major spike and government alert are focused on Andhra Pradesh.

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