Typhus
Key points
- Typhus is an infectious disease which is transmitted by lice or fleas and characterized by high fever, a transient rash, and fairly severe illness.
- Typhus is a rickettsial disease caused by one of two organisms, Rickettsia prowazekii (epidemic typhus and Brill disease) and Rickettsia typhi (murine or endemic typhus).
- Treatment The goal of treatment is to eliminate the infection and to treat the symptoms with antibiotics (such as tetracycline, doxycycline, or chloramphenicol).
- Without treatment death may occur in 10 to 60% of patients with epidemic typhus.
Alternative names
Murine typhus; Epidemic typhus; Endemic typhus; Brill-Zinsser disease; Jail fever
Definition
Typhus is an infectious disease which is transmitted by lice or fleas and characterized by high fever, a transient rash, and fairly severe illness.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Typhus is a rickettsial disease caused by one of two organisms, Rickettsia prowazekii (epidemic typhus and Brill disease) and Rickettsia typhi (murine or endemic typhus). Epidemic typhus and Brill disease are uncommon in the United States.
Murine typhus occurs in the southeastern and southern states. There are less than 100 cases per year. Murine typhus is a milder form and is seldom fatal (less than 2%).
It is frequently seen in the summer and fall and typically lasts two to three weeks. Risk factors for murine typhus include exposure to rat fleas or rat feces, or exposure to other animals (such as cats, opossums, raccoons, skunks, and rats).
Epidemic typhus occurs in poor hygienic conditions (which is why it is sometimes called "jail fever"), usually when the temperature is cold. It is spread by lice. Although very rare in the United States, it has sometimes been spread by the lice and fleas of flying squirrels.
Brill-Zinsser disease is a mild form of epidemic typhus, caused by reactivation of the disease in the body of someone who has been previously infected after a long period of dormancy. This is more common in the elderly.
Symptoms
SYMPTOMS OF MURINE TYPHUS:
- headache
- backache
- arthralgia
- fever, extremely high (105 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit) and may last up to two weeks
- rash that begins on the trunk and spreads peripherally (The rash is made up of dull-red macules that may become slightly papular after the initial appearance may last only a few hours.)
- nausea and vomiting in most patients
- hacking, dry cough
- abdominal pain
Symptoms OF EPIDEMIC TYPHUS:
- severe headache
- fever, high (104 degrees Fahrenheit)
- cough in 70% of patients
- arthralgia and myalgia, (muscle pain) severe
- chills
- falling blood pressure
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.