After being bitten by tsutsugamushi disease, the severity varies, ranging from mild symptoms to recovery in 7 ~ 10 days, to obvious poisoning and nervous system symptoms in severe cases, and the course of disease is more than three weeks.
The incubation period of the disease is 6 ~ 18 days (average 9 ~ 12 days). During this period, painless red papules with a size of about 0.3- 1.0 cm can appear at the bite of chigger mite larvae. Then blisters are formed, and necrosis and bleeding appear in the central part, forming a round or oval black scab, which is the eschar. There is a flush around. The scabbed skin falls off and forms an ulcer. Eschar or ulcer is more common in armpit, groin, perineum, anus and other hidden, wet and sweaty parts. Local lymph nodes near eschar are swollen and tender. The incidence of eschar varies from place to place, with 85-98% reported in China, and most patients have only one eschar.
After the incubation period, the body temperature rises rapidly to 39.5℃ ~ 40.5℃ within 2 ~ 8 days, with occasional chills, severe headache, general pain and weakness, loss of appetite, and nausea, paroxysmal abdominal pain and constipation in a few patients. The patient's expression is pale, his pulse is slow, and he occasionally has a dry cough, a small amount of phlegm and occasional bloodshot.
By the first weekend, scattered red maculopapules appeared on the trunk and limbs and subsided. Rashes on the head and feet are rare.
In severe cases, the rash will bleed. Rash usually lasts about 4 ~ 7 days, without desquamation, but pigmentation can occur.
You should seek medical attention immediately after being bitten by tsutsugamushi disease, and don't delay your illness because of carelessness.