Scrub typhus and intracranial hypertension: A rare but crucial mimicry of idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Abstract

Scrub typhus is a rickettsial disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted by infected chiggers, and is commonly associated with acute febrile illness, thrombocytopenia, and eschar formation at the site of the bite. Neurological manifestations, including meningitis, encephalitis, and encephalopathy, are common, though rarer complications such as stroke and optic neuritis can occur. This report highlights an unusual complication of scrub typhus, presenting with idiopathic intracranial hypertension leading to papilledema and retinal hemorrhages in a 32-year-old female.