Abstract
In 2006, questionnaire surveys related to surveillance, recognition, and reporting of Tsutsugamushi disease and Japanese spotted fever were conducted with dermatologists in Kumamoto and Miyazaki prefecture. The response rate was 60% (73/121) in Kumamoto and 53% (27/51) in Miyazaki. Of the dermatologists in Kumamoto, 74% and 51% knew that Tsutsugamushi disease and Japanese spotted fever were notifiable diseases, respectively. Recognition of these surveillance systems among Miyazaki dermatologists was at almost the same level as Kumamoto. However, in the survey in 2001, only 26% of Kumamoto dermatologists had known that Tsutsugamushi disease was notifiable. In 2005, 7 Tsutsugamushi disease cases were clinically diagnosed. Among them, 3 were laboratory confirmed and 2 were reported by a Kumamoto dermatologist. Among the dermatologists in Miyazaki, 2 Tsutsugamushi disease cases were clinically diagnosed and 1 case was confirmed and reported. One Japanese spotted fever case was clinically confirmed and reported by a dermatologist in Miyazaki. Facilities for laboratory confirmation of these diseases are limited in these areas. A larger survey is needed for surveillance evaluation of laboratory confirmation and reporting.
