Sero-Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus Infection in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Trop Med Int HealthJun 14, 2026 (epub)
Jogender Yadav, Santenna Chenchula, Ram Kumar Nema et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prevalence of scrub typhus among patients with acute febrile illness in India. Analyzing 44 studies with 67,179 suspected cases, the researchers found a pooled prevalence of 29.3% (95% CI: 22.3%-37.3%). The findings highlight the significant burden of scrub typhus in this population.
Key findings
- The pooled prevalence of scrub typhus was 29.3% (95% CI: 22.3%-37.3%).
- Prevalence varied widely across regions, ranging from 0.63% to 93.10%.
- Sensitivity analyses showed no single study significantly altered the pooled prevalence.
- Minimal publication bias was indicated by statistical tests.
Why it matters
Recognizing scrub typhus as a common cause of acute febrile illness is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality in affected patients.