Question 1

can typhus fever still be spread around the world?

Accepted Answer

Not likely: Classical epidemic typhus, spread by the clothing or body louse, is not as likely to be linked to war or famine or population upheaval.  It still does pop up its ugly head at times.

Question 2

my wife has severe headache, cramping left abdominal pain and 40 deg fever, headache is related to fever, went to doc diagnose uti, can it be typhus?

Accepted Answer

Typhus: It could be due to typhus especially if a rash appears ifno improvement overnight return to the doctor or er.

Question 3

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.

Question 4

is there any difference between typhoid and typhus?

Accepted Answer

Yup.: In the pre-modern era, they were difficult to tell apart.  Typhoid is of course typhus-like and sometimes it is still called abdominal typhus.  The typhoid bacillus can be isolated in a blood culture (negative in typhus) and the widal test is positive (negative in typhus). Epidemic typhus is uncommon today and is spread by the body louse.

Question 5

why might someone need a typhus vaccine for diving?

Accepted Answer

Typhoid: The vaccine is recommended if traveling to a part of the world where Typhoid is endemic (does not substitute for caution when eating/drinking).  Not required for diving, but for travel.

Question 6

is there a typhus vaccine, and is it for the plague?

Accepted Answer

No, and no: Plague is a bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis.  Typhus is a rickettsial infection caused by a variety of rickettsia.  Vaccines against typhus are not widely used or available.  Typhoid fever (unrelated to typhus) is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi.  There are typhoid vaccines available, which are recommended for people traveling to endemic areas.

Question 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

how can rickettsia prowazeckii (epidemic typhus) reproduce?

Accepted Answer

Epidemic Typhus: Rickettsia prowazekii only replicate within host cells.

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Doctor answers about:

Scrub typhus fever

A member asked:

Can typhus fever still be spread around the world?

A member asked:

My wife has severe headache, cramping left abdominal pain and 40 deg fever, headache is related to fever, went to doc diagnose uti, can it be typhus?

A member asked:

Is lice a common vector for typhus?

A member asked:

Is there any difference between typhoid and typhus?

A member asked:

Why might someone need a typhus vaccine for diving?

A member asked:

Is there a typhus vaccine, and is it for the plague?

A member asked:

How many people died from 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?

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