About Epidemic Typhus

Epidemic typhus is a bacterial disease caused by one of two types of typhus bacteria. The disease is most often spread by fleas or lice. The type of bacteria determines the type of infection.

Types

• The two types of bacteria that cause typhus are Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia prowazekii. Epidemic typhus is caused by Rickettsia prowazekii. Brill-Zinsser disease, more common in elderly people, is a mild form of epidemic typhus.

Causes

• Epidemic typhus is transmitted by the feces of body lice. This happens when the feces are rubbed or scratched into open wounds or the mucous membranes of the mouth or eyes. In the U.S., contact with flying squirrels may occasionally cause the disease, according to Merck.com.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms of epidemic typhus, according to Merck.com, include an intense and intractable headache, a prolonged high fever and a maculopapular rash.

Treatment

• The primary treatment for epidemic typhus is the antibiotic drug doxycycline, followed by tetracycline and then chloramphenicol, notes MedlinePlus.com. Dusting people with lindane or malathion may help eliminate the lice, according to Merck.com.

Warning

• Aging increases the risk of death from epidemic typhus. If epidemic typhus is left untreated, mortality may reach 60 percent in patients older than 50 years, according to Merck.com.