SINGLE DOSE DOXYCYCLINE THERAPY FOR SCRUB TYPHUS

A single dose of 200 mg of doxycycline was shown to be as effective as a seven day course of tetracycline, in patients suspected of having scrub typhus. 65 (44%) of the 149 patients studied fulfilled the criteria for definite diagnosis of scrub typhus; 10 had an additional diagnosis. Rickettsia tsutsugamushi was isolated from 49 (75 %) patients. There was no difference between the two treatment groups in time to defervescence, abolition of cough and headache, or in the time taken to recover well-being. There were no relapses in either group. Of the remaining 84 patients, a causal diagnosis was achieved in 52. Irrespective of a diagnosis there was no difference in apparent response to either doxycycline or tetracycline. + Major, R. A.M.C. Present Address: Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, London SE18. © 1978 Oxford university press.