title: Scrub typhus in the northern provinces of Vietnam: an observational study of admissions to a national referral hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scrub typhus is a common cause of fever in parts of South East and Southern Asia. Little is known about the disease burden in Vietnam.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-year observational study of scrub typhus at a tertiary referral hospital in northern Vietnam was carried out. Diagnosis was based on a single serological test in patients with suggestive clinical symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scrub typhus was diagnosed in 3.5% (251/7226) of admissions. Cases occurred throughout the year, with incidence highest in the summer. Although complications were common, mortality was low (1.2%; 3/251).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that scrub typhus is common, with a seasonal distribution in northern Vietnam.
authors.affiliation: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hanoi, Vietnam bnadjm@oucru.org.
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nadjm
authors.affiliation: Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Pham T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Thuy
authors.affiliation: National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Van D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Trang
authors.affiliation: Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Le Dang
authors.initials: le D
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Nguyen V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Kinh
authors.affiliation: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Heiman F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wertheim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000383:Agriculture; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Orientia tsutsugamushi; Scrub typhus; South East Asia; Vietnam