Effective Treatment of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Linked to Scrub Typhus Using Doxycycline and Immunomodulatory Therapy: A Case Study - Takeaways - MDSpire

Effective Treatment of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Linked to Scrub Typhus Using Doxycycline and Immunomodulatory Therapy: A Case Study

  • By

  • Hua, Yuanyuan

  • Zhang, Yan

  • Zhou, Jimin

  • Shi, Yan

  • Xu, Feng

  • April 17, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) can be a fatal complication of scrub typhus with often delayed diagnosis.

  • 2

    A 14-year-old boy with scrub typhus presented with prolonged fever, cough, lethargy, and a pathognomonic eschar.

  • 3

    Laboratory findings met HLH-2004 criteria, confirming secondary HLH triggered by scrub typhus.

  • 4

    Treatment with doxycycline, intravenous immunoglobulin, and dexamethasone resulted in fever resolution within 72 hours.

  • 5

    Clinicians should be alert to HLH in pediatric scrub typhus cases with rapid declines in platelets and fibrinogen.

Original Source(s)

Effective Treatment of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Linked to Scrub Typhus Using Doxycycline and Immunomodulatory Therapy: A Case Study

  • by Hua, Yuanyuan , Zhang, Yan , Zhou, Jimin , Shi, Yan , Xu, Feng

  • April 17, 2026

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