Typhus

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Typhus (not related in any way with typhoid fever) denotes a number of infectious diseases with similar symptoms caused by the Rickettsia bacteria. Its name comes from the Greek for hazy, denoting its early association with miasma, foul air, and a confused state of mind.

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Types of typhus

Typhus can be classified by the bacteria that causes it. The three types of typhus are:

  • Epidemic typhus (louse-bourne typhus) is caused by the Rickettsia prowazekii and is usually transmitted by the human body louse. It often occurs in very crowded areas (like prisons) or after natural disaster, and it causes symptoms like headache, fever and exhaustion.
  • Endemic typhus (murine typhus) is caused by the Rickettsia typhi, a bacteria transmitted by fleas that infest rats, or by the Rickettsia felis, transmitted by fleas that infest cats or possums. It can cause fever and headaches, as well as nausea, vomiting and joint pain.
  • Scrub typhus (chigger-borne typhus) is caused by Orientia tsutsugamush, and it is most commonly transmitted by chiggers. It causes gastrointestinal problems.
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Symptoms

Symptoms common to all types of typhus include headache, arthralgia, high fever, failing blood pressure, stupor or delirium and skin rash.

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Diagnosis and treatment

Clinical diagnosis is usually decided by serologica testing, using the Weill-Felix test, identifying typhus among other diseases caused by Rickettsia bacteria like Boutonneuse fever.

The treatment is mainly antibiotic, tetracycline or tetracycline-like antibiotics. Typhim Vi and Vivotif are vaccines which may protect the organism against typhus, but neither is 100% effective.

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