Typhus

Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that includes epidemic typhus, scrub typhus and murine typhus. Fever, headache and a rash typically begin one to two weeks after exposure. The diseases are caused by specific bacteria: Rickettsia prowazekii spread by body lice causes epidemic typhus, Orientia tsutsugamushi spread by chiggers causes scrub typhus, and Rickettsia typhi spread by fleas causes murine typhus. Treatment is with the antibiotic doxycycline, and prevention is by reducing exposure to the organisms that spread the disease. Epidemic typhus generally occurs in outbreaks when poor sanitary conditions and crowding are present. Typhus has been described since at least 1528, and it is distinct from typhoid fever.