Pneumonia due to scrub typhus infection: a case report

BackgroundScrub typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by the rickettsial bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted to humans through infected mite bites. Patients typically present with sudden onset high fever, headache, myalgia, and eschar formation at the site of the bites. Respiratory symptoms, such as cough and shortness of breath, can also occur, especially in severe cases that lead to pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This report presents a case of scrub typhus pneumonia, diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF).Case presentationA 58-year-old woman was admitted with cough, sputum production, and fever. Imaging revealed pneumonia. During hospitalization, bronchoscopy was performed to identify the causative pathogen. mNGS of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid confirmed Orientia tsutsugamushi infection. Patient's pneumonia was improved after oral administration of doxycycline(100 mg two times daily) for 1 month.ConclusionThis report highlights the diagnostic challenges of scrub typhus-induced pneumonia and demonstrates usefulness and the advantages of mNGS in identifying rare pathogens.