Typhus is a bacterial disease spread by lice or fleas.
Alternative NamesMurine typhus; Epidemic typhus; Endemic typhus; Brill-Zinsser disease; Jail fever
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsTyphus is caused by one of two types of bacteria: Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia prowazekii. The form of typus depends on which type of bacteria causes the infection.
Rickettsia typhi causes murine or endemic typhus. Endemic typhus is uncommon in the United States. It is usually seen in areas where hygiene is poor and the temperature is cold. Endemic typhus is sometimes called "jail fever." Lice and fleas of flying squirrels spread the bacteria.
Murine typhus occurs in the southeastern and southern United States, often during the summer and fall. It is rarely deadly. Risk factors for murine typhus include:
Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus and Brill-Zinsser disease. Brill-Zinsser disease is a mild form of epidemic typhus. It occurs when the disease re-activates in a person who was previously infected. It is more common in the elderly.
SymptomsSymptoms of murine typhus may include:
Symptoms of endemic typhus may include:
The early rash is a light rose color and fades when you press on it. Later, the rash becomes dull and red and does not fade. People with severe typhus may also develop small areas of bleeding into the skin (petechiae).
Signs and testsA complete blood count (CBC) may show anemia and low platelets. Other blood tests for typhus may show:
Treatment includes antibiotics such as:
Tetracycline taken by mouth can permanently stain teeth that are still forming. It is usually not prescribed for children until after all of their permanent teeth have grown in.
Patients with epidemic typhus may need intravenous fluids and oxygen.
Expectations (prognosis)Without treatment, death may occur in 10 - 60% of patients with epidemic typhus. Patients over age 60 have the highest risk of death. Patients who receive treatment quickly should completely recover.
Less than 2% of untreated patients with murine typhus may die. Prompt antibiotic treatment will cure nearly all patients.
ComplicationsCalling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you develop symptoms of typhus. This serious disorder can require emergency care.
PreventionAvoid areas where you might encounter rat fleas or lice. Good sanitation and public health measures reduce the rat population.
Measures to get rid of lice when an infection has been found include:
Bechah Y, Capo C, Mege JL, Raoult D. Epidemic typhus. Lancet Infect Dis. 2008;8:417-426.
Typhus is a bacterial disease spread by lice or fleas.
Alternative NamesMurine typhus; Epidemic typhus; Endemic typhus; Brill-Zinsser disease; Jail fever
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsTyphus is caused by one of two types of bacteria: Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia prowazekii. The form of typus depends on which type of bacteria causes the infection.
Rickettsia typhi causes murine or endemic typhus. Endemic typhus is uncommon in the United States. It is usually seen in areas where hygiene is poor and the temperature is cold. Endemic typhus is sometimes called "jail fever."
Murine typhus occurs in the southeastern and southern United States, often during the summer and fall. It is rarely deadly. Risk factors for murine typhus include:
Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus and Brill-Zinsser disease. Brill-Zinsser disease is a mild form of epidemic typhus. It occurs when the disease re-activates in a person who was previously infected. It is more common in the elderly. Lice and fleas of flying squirrels spread the bacteria.
SymptomsSymptoms of murine or endemic typhus may include:
Symptoms of epidemic typhus may include:
The early rash is a light rose color and fades when you press on it. Later, the rash becomes dull and red and does not fade. People with severe typhus may also develop small areas of bleeding into the skin (petechiae).
Signs and testsA complete blood count (CBC) may show anemia and low platelets. Other blood tests for typhus may show:
Treatment includes antibiotics such as:
Tetracycline taken by mouth can permanently stain teeth that are still forming. It is usually not prescribed for children until after all of their permanent teeth have grown in.
Patients with epidemic typhus may need intravenous fluids and oxygen.
Expectations (prognosis)Without treatment, death may occur in 10 - 60% of patients with epidemic typhus. Patients over age 60 have the highest risk of death. Patients who receive treatment quickly should completely recover.
Less than 2% of untreated patients with murine typhus may die. Prompt antibiotic treatment will cure nearly all patients.
ComplicationsCalling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you develop symptoms of typhus. This serious disorder can require emergency care.
PreventionAvoid areas where you might encounter rat fleas or lice. Good sanitation and public health measures reduce the rat population.
Measures to get rid of lice when an infection has been found include:
Bechah Y, Capo C, Mege JL, Raoult D. Epidemic typhus. Lancet Infect Dis. 2008;8:417-426.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 03/18/2011
A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (9/15/2010).
There are so many risks to health from rats. They can transmit a number of diseases like dysentery, plague, typhus and leptospirosis among others.
good question, i didnt kno squirrels flew.:) try again laters:) lol (a.k.a they don't) and u shouldn't get up close 2 one because they r wild! Yes they do bite ..I was bitten on the hand ..They don't have rabies but typhus is a concern
ANSWER:This answer is based on animals that have been important to the advancement of mankind over the last 13,000 years (as prescribed by the theory of evolution).The horse and camel: Domesticated animals that allowed great advancement in agriculture, transport and warfare and provided high levels of energy and protein.The cow, ox, donkey and llama: Domesticated animals that allowed great advancement in agriculture and transport, but not so much in warfare. Also provided high levels of energy and protein.The dog, pig, goat and sheep: Medium-sized domesticated animals that provided high levels of energy and protein and some advancement in transport.The chicken, duck, turkey, rabbit and guinea pig: Small domesticated animals provided high levels of energy and protein.The cat: Domesticated cats were kept to hunt mice and rats, reducing the loss of food and rodent-borne diseases.The mosquito, flea and louse: These 3 have played an important role to mankind by reducing the population through transmitting malaria (kills 1.5 to 3 million people annually), plague (has killed approximately 200 million people to date) and typhus (killed 6 million people around WWII alone) respectively.
It is very likely that a baby mouse may carry a disease, but not all do. It all depends on the habitat and, of course, what the mouse may consume. Mice can also be born with the disease( for example: the hantavirus).
Yes, the typhus rash may itch, especially if it is murine typhus.
is there a certent place that you get typhus
Epidemic typhus, which is sometimes called jail fever or louse-borne typhus
Yes. The rats is born with Typhus. And if a rat bit you, then you will have Typhus. It is a disease that can kill you.
uhm im not sure but i think its typhus?
Typhus is tramitted by body lice and ticks
Scrub typhus is also known as tsutsugamushi disease. also commonly referred to as tropical typhus.
Endemic typhus is carried by fleas.
While typhus diseases are commonly spread by the lice and ticks of rats, Epidemic typhus is spread by the human body louse.
yes Annie Frank did die of Typhus
she had typhus in a book i read she died of typhus
There was no vaccine for endemic typhus in the great war.