Typhus (TI-fus) is a group of infections caused by bacteria called rickettsiae that are spread by parasites such as lice that live on people or on other warm-blooded animals such as rats and mice.
Throughout history, war and famine have brought outbreaks of typhus, a group of infections spread by parasites that live on people or animals such as rats and mice. During World War II, typhus spread through Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific Islands, and it killed thousands of prisoners in German concentration camps. Epidemic typhus still can be a serious threat in parts of the world where a breakdown in society or a natural calamity such as an earthquake leads to unhealthy living conditions.
It is likely that typhus existed in ancient history, although the first clear historical description of typhus comes from the eleventh century, when an outbreak took place in a monastery in Sicily. Typhus reached epidemic proportions in 1489, during a siege in Granada. Typhus then spread throughout Europe.
Typhus also was present in the Americas, although there is some controversy as to whether Spanish explorers brought the disease in the sixteenth century, or whether the disease already was present in Aztec and other pre-Columbian societies.
In the early nineteenth century, typhus increased dramatically in Europe. In the twentieth century, typhus spread through Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific Islands, killing thousands of prisoners in German concentration camps.
Typhus is a group of infections caused by rickettsiae, a group of unusual bacteria. Rickettsiae are like other bacteria in that they can be killed by antibiotics. They are also like viruses, however, in that they must invade living cells in order to grow. There are three main types of typhus: epidemic, murine, and scrub.
Both epidemic and murine typhus are found around the world. However, epidemic typhus is most common in situations where poor hygiene and crowded living conditions exist. Epidemic typhus is rare in the United States. Murine typhus is most common in rat-infested areas. It is the only type of typhus that occurs regularly in the United States, but fewer than 100 cases a year are reported, mainly in Texas and California.
The symptoms of typhus include fever, headache, chills, and general aches that are followed by a rash. The rash spreads to most of the body but usually does not affect the face, palms of the hands, or soles of the feet. In murine typhus, the symptoms are similar but milder. In epidemic and scrub typhus, the fever may rise as high as 104 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and stay high for about two weeks. The headache is intense.
In severe cases of typhus, blood pressure may drop dangerously. Severe illness also may lead to confusion, seizures, coma, or even death. This accounts for the disease's name, which comes from the Greek word "typhos," meaning smoke, a cloud, or a stupor arising from a fever.
Blood tests are used to show if people are infected with typhus rickettsiae. People with typhus who are treated with antibiotics generally recover. If treatment is begun early, they usually get better quickly. If treatment is delayed, however, the improvement usually is slower, and the fever lasts longer. If left untreated, typhus can damage organs, lead to coma, and even to death.
Prevention of typhus is based on avoiding the unsanitary conditions in which it spreads. It is always wise to steer clear of animals such as rats and mice that may carry disease. Travelers to areas where typhus is common should be especially cautious. To prevent the spread of typhus, body lice must be destroyed by removing them from people with the disease and by boiling or steaming their clothes.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30333. The website for this government agency has information about typhus and other rickettsial infections.
Telephone 800-311-3435
http://www.cdc.gov
The following comments are not guaranteed to be that of a trained medical professional. Please consult your physician for advice.