Patient M.H.T, 14 years old, ethnic minority, living in Dien Bien, started the disease about a week before being hospitalized with symptoms of fever and sore throat. The family took the child to a nearby medical facility for treatment, but the condition did not improve but quickly worsened.
The child developed low blood pressure, fell into shock and suffered multiple organ damage. At the provincial hospital, the patient was diagnosed with sepsis, pneumonia, acute kidney failure, liver damage and severe shock.
Due to the situation continuing to worsen, inflammatory indicators increased, kidney function recovered slowly, children urinated less, severe lung damage, the patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Center, National Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
According to Dr. Nguyen Hong Ky, Center for Intensive Care, when admitted to the hospital, the child still had a continuous fever, severe respiratory failure, had to be ventilated with high oxygen support levels, and at the same time used vasopressors and blood filtration.
Doctors recorded septic shock and multiple organ damage, including pneumonia, acute kidney failure and liver damage.
During a thorough examination, doctors discovered a skin lesion suspected of being caused by mite bites in the area under the chest. This is an important detail to help orient the cause of the disease in the context that the child is showing signs of severe infection.
In-depth tests determined that the child was infected with Rickettsia, consistent with the diagnosis of mite fever. The child continued to receive intensive care, ventilation, blood filtration and appropriate antibiotics.
After the first hours of treatment at the Intensive Care Center, the need for oxygen support and vasopressor medication for the patient tends to decrease. However, the child still has a fever, organ function recovers slowly, so the prognosis is still severe and needs to continue to be monitored and treated actively.
Dr. Nguyen Hong Ky said that sea urchin fever is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria, transmitted through the bites of sea urchin larvae. The disease often causes high fever, headache, fatigue, pain, can cause rash and is easily confused with other infectious diseases.
A characteristic sign is erosor ulcers, usually painless and located in discreet places such as the armpits, groin, under the chest, around the back. In 14-year-old girls, under-chest ulcers help doctors orient diagnosis.
If not treated promptly, the disease can cause pneumonia, respiratory failure, liver failure, kidney failure, blood clotting disorders, shock and multiple organ failure. The disease has specific treatments and responds well if detected early.
When you have a prolonged high fever after going to the forest, farming, gardening or being exposed to bushes or lawns, you need to inform your doctor. If you have shortness of breath, little urination, altered consciousness, or worsening condition, you need to go to a medical facility immediately.
