A 12-year-old girl from Siddheshwar in Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality-1, Palpa, died of scrub typhus, according to health authorities.

The deceased, identified as Asmita Kumal, a seventh grader at Bedbedanga Sanskrit School, had been suffering from high fever and cough. She was initially treated with medicines from a local pharmacy, but her condition failed to improve.

Asmita was later taken to the Ruru Primary Health Centre in Gulmi after her oxygen level dropped. Health officials confirmed that she had tested positive for scrub typhus. Despite being referred to Palpa for further treatment, she became unconscious on the way and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

According to Madhusudan Bhattarai, information officer at the Palpa District Health Office, delayed hospital treatment and other complications contributed to her death. He said 238 people in the district have tested positive for scrub typhus as of August 22. Data was collected from Palpa Hospital, Lumbini Medical College, United Mission Hospital, and Rampur Hospital.

Health officials have urged people to seek immediate medical advice if symptoms appear. “Self-medicating with common drugs from local pharmacies instead of consulting doctors can be life-threatening,” Bhattarai warned.

Symptoms of scrub typhus include severe headache, high fever, and rashes around the neck and throat. According to Jivan Rana, head of the health unit at Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality, 48 cases have been confirmed in the area since mid-July.