[Tsutsugamushi disease and Japanese spotted fever recognition among medical seminar participants for the general public in epidemic and non-epidemic areas].

Questionnaires on Tsutsugamushi disease (TD) and Japanese spotted fever (JSF) recognition, were distributed at lectures to the general public held in Sakai, Osaka (Lecture A), and Sumoto, Hyogo (Lecture B). Questions included knowledge of transmission routes, symptoms, and seeing physicians after having suspected symptoms. Hyogo had more reported cases of both diseases than Osaka. The response was 57.9% (113/195) to Lecture A, and 87.2% (61/70) to Lecture B. Analysis covered 89 Lecture A and 53 Lecture B respondents after excluding medical and public health specialists and those with unknown occupations. Disease recognition for JSF, knowledge of TD transmission routes, and symptoms of both diseases were better among Lecture B respondents -a statistically significant finding. The two groups saw physicians after having suspected symptoms at roughly the same rate. When these two groups were combined, those with knowledge of transmission routes or symptoms were significantly more likely to see physicians (p<0.05).