Comparison of Clinical Features and Prognosis of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Transmitted From Tick-to-person Versus Person-to-person

Abstract

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne infection that has recently emerged. It is important to compare the clinical features and prognosis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome transmitted from tick-to-person versus person-to-person.Methods: A retrospective analysis of the confirmed cases of SFTS from 2015 to 2020 in southern Anhui was performed according to the different transmission routes. The cases were divided into a tick-to-person transmission infection group (37 cases) and a person-to-person transmission infection group (12 cases). Results: SFTS incidence was concentrated in April-June.The median time from onset to treatment was 2.5 days in the person-to-person transmission infection group and 5.0 days in the tick-to-person transmission infection group (P<0.05). The proportion of consciousness disorders in the tick-to-person transmission infection group was 43.24% (16/37), which was higher than that in the person-to-person transmission infection group. The number of critical patients in the person-to-person transmission group was 16.67% (2/12), which was significantly lower than that in the tick-to-person transmission infection group, 91.89% (34/37). The number of deaths in the tick-to-person transmission infection group was 29.73% (11/37), but there were no deaths in the person-to-person transmission infection group.Conclusions: The tick-to-person transmission infection group is more serious, and the risk of poor prognosis is higher in this group. Therefore, we should scientifically formulate prevention and control strategies and treatment plans for patients with tick infections.