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The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
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A Community-based Case-control Study of Behavioral Factors Associated with Scrub Typhus during the Autumn Epidemic Season in South Korea

Sun-Seog KweonJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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Jin-Su ChoiJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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Hyun-Sul LimJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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Jang-Rak KimJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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Keon-Yeop KimJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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So-Yeon RyuJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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So-Dam LeeJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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Heung-Ku ImJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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Jun-Wook KwonJeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea; Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2009.80.442
Volume/Issue:
Volume 80: Issue 3
Page(s):
442–446
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A community-based, case-control study was carried out to investigate risk factors for scrub typhus in South Korea. Cases (n = 299) were defined as persons who were diagnosed serologically within the past two weeks. Two neighborhood control subjects were selected by matching for sex, age, and occupation. Taking a rest directly on the grass, working in short sleeves, working with bare hands, and squatting to defecate or urinate posed the highest risks, with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.7 (1.2–2.3), 1.6 (1.1–2.4), 1.7 (1.2–2.4), and 2.0 (1.4–2.9), respectively. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt while working, keeping work clothes off the grass, and always using a mat to rest outdoors showed protective associations, with aORs and 95% CIs of 0.5 (0.3–0.9), 0.6 (0.4–0.9), and 0.7 (0.5–0.9), respectively. These results might be useful in the establishment of a detailed control strategy for scrub typhus.

Copyright:
Copyright 2009 The American Society of Tropical Medicine 2009
Received:
21 May 2008
|
Accepted:
02 Dec 2008
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Published Online:
Mar 2009
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