The clinical characteristics of pleural effusion in scrub typhus.
The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of pleural effusion and to investigate the characteristics of pleural effusion in scrub typhus.



We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of scrub typhus patients between January 2004 and December 2011 at Chosun University Hospital in South Korea. A total of 445 scrub typhus patients were divided into the following two groups: without (n = 352) or with pleural effusion (n = 93). The data of 18 scrub typhus patients who underwent thoracentesis were summarized.



Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the following factors were associated with the occurrence of pleural effusion in scrub typhus: older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.029, P = 0.037, confidence interval [CI] = 1.002-1.056); male gender (OR = 1.924, P = 0.020, CI = 1.109-3.340); presence of heart failure (OR = 2.628, P = 0.039, CI = 1.052-6.565); and lower albumin (OR = 0.107, P ≤ 0.001, CI = 0.058-0.196). Most pleural effusion presentations were bilateral (88 %) and small (91 %). The effusion had transudate characteristics in 7 patients and exudate characteristics in 11 patients based on Light's criteria.



This study provided the first data regarding the following four independent risk factors associated with the occurrence of pleural effusion: older age; male gender; the presence of heart failure; and lower albumin. The pleural effusion presentations in scrub typhus patients were bilateral and small in most cases, with transudate and/or exudate characteristics.
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-717, South Korea.
Hyung Ho
HH
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-717, South Korea.
Jong-Hoon
JH
Chung
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-717, South Korea. drongkim@chosun.ac.kr.
Dong-Min
DM
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-717, South Korea.
Na Ra
NR
Yun
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-717, South Korea.
Jun
J
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-717, South Korea.
Yong Eun
YE
Kwon
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-717, South Korea.
Sung Ho
SH
Yoon
Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, 588 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-717, South Korea.
Seung Il
SI
Lee
Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
Mi Ah
MA
Han
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*
Korea; Pleural effusion; Scrub typhus