TSUTSUGAMUSHI DISEASE Meaning and
Definition
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Tsutsugamushi disease, also known as scrub typhus or bush typhus, is a tropical infectious disease caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected chiggers (larvae of trombiculid mites) found in various regions of Asia, the Pacific islands, and parts of Australia. The disease is characterized by fever, headache, muscle pain, and a characteristic skin rash that develops within a week after infection.
The bacterium O. tsutsugamushi multiplies in the chigger, and when a chigger bites a human, it releases the bacteria into the bloodstream. From there, the bacteria invade different organs and tissues of the body, resulting in a wide range of symptoms. Scrub typhus can affect many organ systems, including the central nervous system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal system.
Without proper diagnosis and treatment, complications can arise, including pneumonia, encephalitis, meningitis, and multi-organ dysfunction. However, with early recognition and appropriate antibiotic therapy (such as doxycycline or azithromycin), the prognosis for patients with scrub typhus is generally favorable, with low mortality rates.
Preventive measures for Tsutsugamushi disease include avoiding areas where chigger-infested rodents are present, wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents, and performing tick checks after outdoor activities. Education and public health efforts are crucial to raise awareness about the disease, improve vector control measures, and promote early diagnosis and timely treatment.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for TSUTSUGAMUSHI DISEASE
- rsutsugamushi disease
- fsutsugamushi disease
- gsutsugamushi disease
- ysutsugamushi disease
- 6sutsugamushi disease
- 5sutsugamushi disease
- tautsugamushi disease
- tzutsugamushi disease
- txutsugamushi disease
- tdutsugamushi disease
- teutsugamushi disease
- twutsugamushi disease
- tsytsugamushi disease
- tshtsugamushi disease
- tsjtsugamushi disease
- tsitsugamushi disease
- ts8tsugamushi disease
- ts7tsugamushi disease
- tsursugamushi disease
Etymology of TSUTSUGAMUSHI DISEASE
The word "Tsutsugamushi Disease" is derived from the Japanese term "tsutsuga mishi" (つつがみし), which translates to "disease caused by the mite".
"Tsutsugamushi" (つつがむし) refers to the specific type of mite that transmits the disease. It is known as the "chigger mite" in English.
The term "disease" is added to the name to indicate that it is a condition caused by the mite.
Overall, "Tsutsugamushi Disease" is a Japanese term that highlights the causative agent of the illness and is commonly used to refer to scrub typhus, a vector-borne disease transmitted by the infected mite.
