Typhus

Alternative names:

Brill-Zinsser disease; epidemic typhus; Murine typhus

Definition:

An infectious rickettsial disease transmitted by a louse or a flea and characterized by fever, a transient rash, and falling blood pressure.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Typhus is a rickettsial disease caused by one of two organisms, R. prowazekii (epidemic typhus and Brill disease) and R. typhi (Murine typhus). Epidemic typhus and Brill disease are uncommon in the United States. Murine typhus is common in the southeastern and southern states. Murine typhus is a milder form of typhus and is seldom fatal (less than 2%). It is frequently seen in the summer and fall. The course of Murine typhus lasts two to three weeks.