Warning for Campers and Hikers During the Late Rainy-Early Winter Season: Beware of Mite Bites, Risk of Scrub Typhus

During the late rainy and early winter season, many tourists enjoy camping and hiking in forested areas, but this increases the risk of being bitten by chigger mites found in these environments. These bites can lead to scrub typhus, a serious illness. The Office of Disease Prevention and Control 9 in Nakhon Ratchasima warns hikers, farmers, and those working near forest edges to wear protective clothing, including long sleeves and pants, and to use insect repellent.

Dr. Taweechai Visanuyothin, Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 9 in Nakhon Ratchasima, warned that people who camp, hike, or work in grasslands or near forests should be cautious of chigger mites, which can cause scrub typhus. This disease is caused by bacterial infection, and chigger mites serve as the vector, typically residing near the ground in grass and bushes. They climb onto clothing and bite exposed skin, often in areas like the armpits, groin, or waist. Symptoms appear 10-12 days after a bite and may include headache, fever, chills, cough, red eyes, nausea, vomiting, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes a red rash or sore at the bite site. While some recover naturally, serious cases can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, or even death.

From January 1 to September 16, 2024, 463 cases of scrub typhus were reported in Health Region 9, with two deaths. The affected provinces are Nakhon Ratchasima (213 cases, 1 death), Buriram (100 cases), Surin (88 cases), and Chaiyaphum (62 cases). The highest incidence was among people aged 65 and over, followed by those aged 55-64, and 45-54. The most affected professions were laborers, crop farmers, and agricultural workers.

Dr. Taweechai advised tourists, hikers, and agricultural workers to take the following precautions:

1. Wear full-body clothing, including long sleeves and pants.
2. Apply insect repellent or herbal mosquito repellent to exposed skin.
3. Avoid areas with high mite populations, such as grasslands, forest edges, and shady spots.
4. After returning from outdoor activities, shower, wash your hair, and launder clothing with strong detergent to eliminate any mites.

If you experience fever or other symptoms within two weeks after a forest visit, seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor of your recent trip to the forest. Early treatment can prevent fatal outcomes. For more information, contact the Disease Control Department Hotline at 1422.

 

Mites are the cause of scrub typhus.

 

 

Source: Thai Health Promotion Foundation
For more information, visit ArokaGO's scrub typhus symptoms page.