Single dose doxycycline therapy for scrub typhus.
A single dose of 200 mg of doxycycline was shown to be as effective as a seven day course of tetracycline, in patients suspected of having scrub typhus. 65 (44%) of the 149 patients studied fulfilled the criteria for definite diagnosis of scrub typhus; 10 had an additional diagnosis. Rickettsia tsutsugamushi was isolated from 49 (75%) patients. There was no difference between the two treatment groups in time to defervescence, abolition of cough and headache, or in the time taken to recover well-being. There were no relapses in either group. Of the remaining 84 patients, a causal diagnosis was achieved in 52. Irrespective of a diagnosis there was no difference in apparent response to either doxycycline or tetracycline.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013752:Tetracycline; D004318:Doxycycline