Luo Yonghan, Liao Zhenghui, Yang Xianyao, Li Hechun, Chi Jinyu, Cha Zhifang, Liu Jun, Ding Chuangang, Feng Yue
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, People's Republic of China.
Second Department of Infectious Disease, Kunming Children's Hospital, Yunnan Key Specialty of Pediatric Infection (Training and Education Program)/Kunming Key Specialty of Pediatric Infection, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
Emerg Microbes Infect. 2025 Dec;14(1):2542242. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2025.2542242. Epub 2025 Aug 8.
Scrub typhus (ST), caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is typically transmitted through mite bites, but vertical transmission from mother to infant remains poorly understood. This case presents a 13-day-old female neonate diagnosed with congenital ST. The infant developed severe systemic involvement, including fever, jaundice, respiratory distress, and signs of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Despite broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, her condition worsened. PCR and serological tests confirmed the diagnosis of ST in both the neonate and the mother, with IgM positivity indicating congenital infection. Following treatment with doxycycline, the patient's condition improved. This case adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the vertical transmission of ST and highlights the need for increased awareness of congenital ST.
恙虫病（ST）由恙虫病东方体引起，通常通过螨叮咬传播，但母亲至婴儿的垂直传播仍了解甚少。本病例为一名13日龄女性新生儿，被诊断为先天性ST。该婴儿出现严重的全身受累，包括发热、黄疸、呼吸窘迫以及噬血细胞性淋巴组织细胞增生症（HLH）体征。尽管进行了广谱抗生素治疗，但其病情仍恶化。聚合酶链反应（PCR）和血清学检测证实新生儿及其母亲均诊断为ST，IgM阳性表明先天性感染。经强力霉素治疗后，患者病情改善。该病例增加了支持ST垂直传播的证据，并强调需要提高对先天性ST的认识。
