Role of Scrub Typhus in Hepatic Dysfunction: Focus on Acute Hepatitis in Differentiating it from other Causes

Ching-Huei Yang

Abstract

Elevated liver enzymes are frequently observed but overlooked during scrub typhus. Moreover, acute hepatitis associated with scrub typhus has rarely been described in the literature. Herein, a case with scrub typhus manifested with acute hepatitis was reported and review of relevant literature was performed. Although abrupt fever, headache and rash (including eshcar and maculopapular rash) are considered to be the potential indicators for scrub typhus, elevated hepatic transaminases with various degrees even acute hepatitis could be another striking feature in scrub typhus that physicians need to know in an endemic area.