Typhus

This is about the disease Typhus. See Typhus (monster) for the monster in Greek mythology, or typhoid fever for a totally different disease that because of its similar name is often confused with it.

Typhus is a name given to several similar diseases caused by Rickettsiae.

There are three types of typhus:

epidemic typhus, also called louse-bourne typhus
endemic typhus, also called flea-borne typhus and murine typhus
scrub typhus, also called chigger-borne typhus

Symptoms common to all forms of typhus are a fever which may reach 39 degrees centigrade and a headache. In tropical countries, typhus is often mistaken for dengue.

Epidemic typhus is so called because it can cause epidemics associated with wars and natural disasters. The causative organism is Rickettsia prowazekii, transmitted by the human body louse (Pediculus humanus corporis). Symptoms are headache, fever, chills, exhaustion, and rash.

The Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, run by the Nazis, was notorious for being dirty and fostering epidemic typhus - killing Anne and Margot Frank and other Jewish prisoners. This form of typhus is also known as prison fever and as ship fever, because it becomes prevalent in crowded conditions in prisons and aboard ships.

Endemic typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi, transmitted by fleas infesting rats, and, less often, Rickettsia felis, transmitted by fleas carried by cats or opossums. Symptoms include headache, fever, chills, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and cough.

Scrub typhus is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted by chiggers, which are found in areas of heavy scrub vegetation. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Definitive diagnosis can be obtained by serological testing. Treatment is often with tetracycline or related antibiotics.

There are a number of other diseases caused by Rickettsiae, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever (also known as "Tick typhus"), Rickettsialpox and Boutonneuse fever.

Typhoid fever is a completely different disease caused by various strains of Salmonella, and should not be confused with typhus despite their similar-sounding names.