Case report: Spontaneous splenic rupture caused by scrub typhus

Abstract

Copyright © 2016 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Spontaneous rupture of the spleen is rarely described as a complication of scrub typhus infection. We report a previously healthy 74-year-old Thai female farmer who presented in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with a history of fever and malaise for 5 days, followed by abdominal pain for 1 day. An exploratory laparotomy was performed due to peritonitis. Operative findings revealed a ruptured spleen and hemoperitoneum. A splenectomy was performed afterward. Scrub typhus was confirmed by a 4-fold increase of IgM titer using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay and a positive result from the polymerase chain reaction targeting the 47-and 56-kDa genes in Orientia tsutsugamushi. She responded well to intravenous chloramphenicol and defervesced within 24 hours without any complication.