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Typhus

Definition

Typhus is a bacterial disease spread by lice or fleas.

Causes

Typhus is caused by two types of bacteria: Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia prowazekii.

Rickettsia typhi causes endemic or murine 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. The bacteria that cause this type of typhus are usually spread from rats to fleas to humans.

• Murine typhus occurs in the southern United States, including California and Texas. It is often seen during the summer and fall. It is rarely deadly. You are more likely to get this type of typhus if you are around rat feces or fleas, and other animals such as cats, possums, raccoons, and skunks.

Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus. It is spread by lice.

Brill-Zinsser disease is a mild form of epidemic typhus. It occurs when the bacteria become active again in a person who was previously infected. It is more common in older adults.

Symptoms

Symptoms of murine or endemic typhus may include:

• Abdominal pain

• Backache

• Dull red rash that begins on the middle of the body and spreads

• Fever, can be extremely high, 105°F to 106°F (40.6°C to 41.1°C) and can last up to 2 weeks

• Hacking, dry cough

• Headache

• Joint and muscle pain

• Nausea and vomiting

Symptoms of epidemic typhus may include:

• High fever, chills

• Confusion, decreased alertness, delirium

• Cough

• Severe muscle and joint pain

• Lights that appear very bright; light may hurt the eyes (photophobia)

• Low blood pressure

• Rash that begins on the chest and spreads to the rest of the body (except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet)

• Severe headache

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.

Exams and Tests

The diagnosis is often based on a physical exam and detailed information about the symptoms. You may be asked if you recall being bitten by fleas. If your health care provider suspects typhus, you will be started on medicines right away. Blood tests will be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment includes the following antibiotics:

• Doxycycline

• Tetracycline

• Chloramphenicol (much less common)

Tetracycline taken by mouth can permanently stain teeth that are still forming. Tetracycline is usually not prescribed for:

• Children until after all of their permanent teeth have grown

• Pregnant women

People with epidemic typhus may need oxygen and intravenous (IV) fluids.

Outlook (Prognosis)

People with epidemic typhus who receive treatment quickly should completely recover. Without treatment, death can occur, with those over age 60 having the highest risk of death.

Only a small number of untreated people with murine typhus may die. Prompt antibiotic treatment will cure nearly all people with murine typhus.

Possible Complications

Typhus may cause these complications:

• Renal insufficiency (kidneys cannot function normally)

• Pneumonia

• Central nervous system damage

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of typhus. This serious disorder can require emergency care.

Prevention

Avoid being in 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:

• Bathing

• Boiling clothes or avoiding infested clothing for at least 5 days (lice will die without feeding on blood)

• Using insecticides (10% DDT, 1% malathion, or 1% permethrin)

References

Blanton LS, Dumler JS, Walker DH. Rickettsia typhi (murine typhus). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 190.

Blanton LS, Walker DH. Rickettsia prowazekii (epidemic or louse-borne typhus). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 189.

Fournier P-E, Raoult D. Rickettsial infections. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 302.

Review Date: 11/10/2024

Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.