Overview

Name: Typhus

Description:

This casebook is published and has been read 106 times.

The author of this casebook has identified the following medical topics as being highly relevant to this casebook.

• Louse-borne [epidemic] typhus -- The classic form of typhus, caused by RICKETTSIA PROWAZEKII, which is transmitted from man to man by the louse Pediculus humanus corporis. This disease is characterized by the sudden onset of intense headache, malaise, and generalized myalgia followed by the formation of a macular skin eruption and vascular and neurologic disturbances.
  
  
• Endemic Flea-Borne Typhus -- An infectious disease clinically similar to epidemic louse-borne typhus (TYPHUS, EPIDEMIC LOUSE-BORNE), but caused by RICKETTSIA TYPHI, which is transmitted from rat to man by the rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis.
  
  
• TYPHUS -- group of acute, arthropod borne infections caused by rickettsiae; includes epidemic (classic or louse-borne) typhus, its recrudescent form, and murine (endemic or flea-borne) typhus; all are characterized by severe headache, chills, high fever, stupor, and rash.
  
  

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