Risk-factors for human infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi: a case-control study in Korea.
A case-control study was conducted involving 156 patients with scrub typhus and 130 controls. Three factors were associated significantly with the risk of developing scrub typhus: engaging in fruit farming (OR 2.44; 95% CI 1.04-5.69), gathering chestnuts (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.09-3.87) and taking breaks in areas adjacent to agricultural operations (OR 3.06; 95% CI 1.50-6.22). In contrast, receiving information or educational materials concerning the prevention of scrub typhus had a protective effect (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.24-0.83). These results suggest that a health education programme will lower the risk of developing scrub typhus when applied to high-risk groups.
Kim
D-M
DM
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
Kim
K Y
KY
Nam
H S
HS
Kweon
S S
SS
Park
M-Y
MY
Ryu
S Y
SY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D014324:Trombiculidae / Q000382:microbiology