Typhus

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Murine typhus; Epidemic typhus; Endemic typhus; Brill-Zinsser disease; Jail fever

Symptoms of murine typhus may include:

• Headache
• Backache
• Arthralgia
• Extremely high fever (105 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit), which may last up to 2 weeks
• Dull red rash that begins on middle of the body and spreads
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hacking, dry cough
• Abdominal pain

Symptoms of endemic typhus may include:

• Severe headache
• High fever (104 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Cough
• Arthralgia
• Severe muscle pain ( myalgia)
• Chills
• Low blood pressure
• Stupor
• Delirium
• Lights appear very bright; light may hurt the eyes
• Rash that begins on chest and spreads to the rest of the body (except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet)

The early rash is a light rose color and fades when you press on it. Later, the rash becomes dull and red and does not fade. People with severe typhus may also develop petechiae.

A CBC may show anemia and low platelets. Other blood tests for typhus may show:

• Low sodium level
• Low level of albumin
• Mildly high liver enzymes
• Mild kidney failure
• High level of typhus antibodies

Review Date: 09/25/2006
Reviewed By: Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.