Scrub Typhus Co-Infections in a Young Boy With Varicella and Malaria: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Scrub typhus is one of the leading causes of acute febrile illness of unknown origin in India. Though several co-infections of other vector-borne diseases have been described in the literature, few such cases have been described in children. As such, it is challenging to diagnose scrub typhus alone and becomes that more complicated when a varicella infection precedes it. This is the first reported case where scrub with varicella infection also had concomitant malaria. In such cases, prompt diagnosis and initiation of the correct drug are imperative. Here we describe a six-year-old child with a past history of varicella infection and co-infected with scrub typhus and malaria.

Keywords: coinfection; doxycycline; malaria; scrub typhus; varicella.