Characteristics of pediatric scrub typhus during an outbreak in the North Eastern region of India: peculiarities in clinical presentation, laboratory findings and complications.

Objective: To identify and report a recent outbreak of scrub typhus cases recorded from October 2009 to January 2010 in the state of Meghalaya, India.

Methods: The case sheets of all the children were retrieved and reviewed retrospectively. Twenty four (24) patients, who were both clinically and serologically confirmed as scrub typhus cases were included in the study.

Empyema thoracis: analysis of 150 cases from a tertiary care centre in North East India.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics, microbiological profile, management, complications and outcome of cases with empyema thoracis.

Methods: All cases diagnosed as 'empyema thoracis' over a period from January 2006 through June 2010 were identified from the inpatient records and discharge summaries. Of the 160 cases identified, 150 cases were taken up for analysis and the rest 10 cases, of which two had significant predisposing co-morbidity and eight cases diagnosed as tubercular empyema thoracis were excluded from the analysis.