Acute Onset Pneumonia with Scrub Typhus in the Peripartum Period: A Case Report

Scrub typhus is a major contributor to acute fevers throughout endemic areas of Asia. This condition is triggered by Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted by the bite of infected chigger larvae (Leptotrombidium mites). In the present case report 26-year-old primigravida presented to the Outpatient Department with acute intermittent fever and dyspnoea. Following a thorough clinical evaluation and differential exclusion, the patient was diagnosed with scrub typhus pneumonia-an atypical manifestation of scrub typhus, which is commonly associated with eschar formation and maculopapular rashes. The patient demonstrated significant improvement with multidisciplinary intervention, rapid diagnostic measures, and prompt therapeutic management. In the literature, scrub typhus presenting as acute pneumonia in the peripartum period is extremely uncommon, making this case unique for its presentation during labour and absence of classical features. This case underscores the importance of considering scrub typhus as a differential in endemic regions, even in the absence of characteristic clinical markers, and highlights the need for early serological testing and timely therapy.