An infectious disease caused by the Rickettsia microorganism, characterized by high fever and delirium.
One of several fevers caused by the Rickettsia bacterium, transmitted by fleas and lice, producingaa fever, extreme weakness and a dark rash on the skin. The test for typhus is the Weil-Felix reaction.
Infection caused by Rickettsia organisms and characterized by headache, chills, fever, rash, and malaise.
A group of bacterial diseases spread to people from insects such as lice, fleas, and mites. Typhus is caused by Rickettsia bacteria, which reproduce by entering a host cell and thriving on the host’s metabolic processes. It may occur in epidemics when it is spread from one person to another by body lice. Fleas can become carriers of the disease by feeding on infected rats, opossums, or domestic cats. This milder form of typhus is transmitted to humans when they are bitten by infected fleas. The secretion of the fleas contains the bacterial organism, which enters the body at the site of the flea bite, producing what is called murine or endemic typhus. Mites can transmit to humans a form of the disease called scrub typhus. Typhus is rare in the United States and occurs primarily in countries that have crowded living environments with heavy infestations of vermin.
Any one of a group of infections caused by rickettsiae and characterized by a severe headache, widespread rash, prolonged high fever, and delirium. They all respond to treatment with chloramphenicol or tetracyclines. Epidemic typhus (also known as classical or louse-borne typhus) is caused by infection with Rickettsia prowazekii transmitted by lice. It was formerly very prevalent in overcrowded insanitary conditions (as during wars and famines), with a mortality rate approaching 100%. Endemic typhus (murine or flea-borne typhus) is a disease of rats due to Rickettsia mooseri; it can be transmitted to man by rat fleas, causing a mild typhus fever. There are in addition several kinds of tick typhus (in which the rickettsiae are transmitted by ticks), including ‘Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and typhus transmitted by mites.
Any of several rickettsial infections transmitted to people by lice, fleas, or mites. The causative microbe invades the lining of blood vessels and smooth muscle cells, causing widespread vasculitis. The most common causes of typhus are Rickettsia prowazekii, R. typhi, and Orientia tsutsugamushi. R. prowazekii causes the epidemic typhus found in crowded conditions with poor sanitation, such as refugee camps.
Any among a cluster of contagious illnesses manifesting comparable symptoms, which stem from rickettsiae (microorganisms akin to bacteria) and are transmitted by insects or analogous creatures.
Among the different variants, epidemic typhus holds historical significance as it was primarily transmitted between humans through body lice. This ailment was responsible for claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands during periods of war, famine, or other catastrophic events. Presently, apart from a few highland regions in tropical Africa and South America, cases of epidemic typhus are infrequent.
Endemic typhus, known as murine typhus as well, is a rat-borne illness that is sometimes transmitted to humans through fleas. Isolated instances of this ailment are observed in North and Central America. On the other hand, scrub typhus is propagated by mites and is prevalent in India and Southeast Asia.
The symptoms and complications associated with all forms of typhus exhibit similarities. These include intense headaches, pain in the back and limbs, coughing, constipation, high fever, a rash resembling measles that could progress to purpura, confusion, and fatigue. If left untreated, typhus can prove fatal, particularly among the elderly or individuals weakened by health conditions.
Diagnosis is established through blood tests, and the infection is managed with antibiotic medications along with supportive care.