Scrub typhus with complications of acute myocarditis and cardiac tamponade in metropolitan areas: two case reports

Abstract

Scrub typhus is known as one of the most common seasonal infections in endemic rural areas, but life-threatening cardiac complications in cases of scrub typhus are very infrequent. In addition, scrub typhus infection has been rarely reported among workers assembling pallets using manufactured wood in metropolitan areas. Herein, we present two cases involving myocarditis and cardiac tamponade as complications of scrub typhus. One patient died and the other patient survived. These cases indicate that scrub typhus infection could be an environmental hazard in metropolitan areas, especially in locations with poor hygiene, and highlight the need for timely diagnosis and proper management of severe scrub typhus infections. Therefore, we present these two informative fatal cases of scrub typhus infection presenting with myocarditis and cardiac tamponade as an environmental hazard in metropolitan areas.

Keywords

• cardiac tamponade
• case reports
• public health
• scrub typhus