Question 1

i've been living for 3 days with someone infected by typhus. is it contagious? should i take a blood test?

Accepted Answer

Yes and No.: Yes, typhus is contagious and no, there is no blood test. Typhus is a type of mite. It is also known as chiggers or lice. Even with great hand washing and hygiene, you may acquire typhus from your roommate. Permethrin in the form of a dust or spray to clothing and bedding is highly effective against lice. Fabric treated with permethrin retains toxicity to lice even after 20 washings.

Question 2

what disease is like typhus?

Accepted Answer

Typhoid: Typhoid is called that because it is typhus-like, given that name before the modern era of microbiology.  There are milder "typhus" diseases including scrub typhus and murine typhus that are caused by different rickettsia.  There is also recrudescent typhus, called brill-zinsser disease, a rarely reported disease from latent organisms, often decades after typhus.

Question 3

how many people died from typhus?

Accepted Answer

Refer to WHO: Please refer to the World Health Organization (WHO) website for more information on Typhus. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs162/en/

Question 4

how many people re diagnosed with typhus?

Accepted Answer

Depends on the type: Epidemic typhus occurs sporadically in times of war, famine or rebellion but is not seen as much any more.  Outbreaks have occurred in burundi and several other areas of africa.  Endemic (murine) typhus is found in many areas of the world including the usa and northern india.  There is currently an outbreak in the los angeles area.

Question 5

what is the best way to prevent typhus?

Accepted Answer

Doxycycline: If you are talking about classical epidemic typhus, oral Doxycycline can prevent it.

Question 6

what are the symptoms of typhus infection?

Accepted Answer

Fever, headache,rash: Typhus comes in different forms.  Epidemic typhus spread by clothing (body) lice.  Murine typhus spread by rodent fleas.  Scrub typhus spread by chiggers.  Of these, murine typhus is not uncommon in the usa. Indeed, southern california, especially around long beach seems to be a "hot bed" of late for murine typhus.

Question 7

how can rickettsia prowazeckii (epidemic typhus) reproduce?

Accepted Answer

Epidemic Typhus: Rickettsia prowazekii only replicate within host cells.

Question 8

about how many people have died of epidemic typhus throughout history?

Accepted Answer

Billions: From wwi backwards, probably more soldiers died of epidemic typhus than from combat in each war.  It is the classical pale horseman of the apocalypse.

Question 9

can you tell me how rickettsia prowazeckii (epidemic typhus) reproduce?

Accepted Answer

Reproduction: Rickettsia prowazekii only replicate within host cells.

Question 10

is lice a common vector for typhus?

Accepted Answer

Terminology issues: Lice most often refers to head lice, pediculosis humanus capitis. Another species, pediculosis  humanus corporis is gererally referred to as the body  louse.The body louse is  a vector for typhus and head lice are just a pest.

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Doctor answers about:

Is typhus contagious

A member asked:

I've been living for 3 days with someone infected by typhus. is it contagious? should i take a blood test?

A member asked:

What disease is like typhus?

A member asked:

How many people died from typhus?

A member asked:

How many people re diagnosed with typhus?

A member asked:

What is the best way to prevent typhus?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of typhus infection?

A member asked:

How can rickettsia prowazeckii (epidemic typhus) reproduce?

A member asked:

About how many people have died of epidemic typhus throughout history?

A member asked:

Can you tell me how rickettsia prowazeckii (epidemic typhus) reproduce?

A member asked:

Is lice a common vector for typhus?

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