Typhus
How do you catch epidemic typhus?
Epidemic typhus is passed from human to human by body lice. These are not the same as Nits or pubic lice , which are a nuisance, but don't transmit disease.
The body lice become infected with Rickettsia prowazekii bacteria when they feed on the blood of an infected person.
If you catch these infected body lice (for example, by using a louse-infested blanket), their infected faeces will be deposited on your skin as they feed on your blood.
You only need to scratch a bite to rub the contaminated lice faeces into the tiny wound on your skin to become infected.
Less commonly, you can catch epidemic typhus by breathing infected dried body louse faeces in airborne dust.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
NHS Choices information on typhus, with links to other useful resources.
How do you catch epidemic typhus?
Epidemic typhus is passed from human to human by body lice. These are not the same as Nits or pubic lice , which are a nuisance, but don't transmit disease. The body lice become infected with Ricket
How do you catch endemic typhus?
Endemic typhus is transmitted by ticks, mites and fleas infected withRickettsia bacteria. These animal carriers of typhus may live in thick scrub vegetation or on small mammals or rodents, such as ra
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of epidemic, endemic and scrub typhus are similar. Typically, someone with typhus will start to feel unwell 10 to 14 days after becoming infected. A sudden, severe headache is often th
How is typhus diagnosed and treated?
Anyone who is unwell shortly after visiting a high-risk country should see theirGP, whowill listen to your symptoms and take note of the countriesyou have recently visited. You will also bephysically
What are the possible complications?
If typhus is not diagnosed and treated promptly, there is a risk of developing complications, including: long-term hearing loss or tinnitus low blood pressure organ damage and kidney failure sec
Can typhus be prevented?
There's currently no licensed vaccine for typhus. The best way to avoid becoming infected with typhus is to avoid areas or crowds where louse-borne typhus is a problem, and take care to avoid contact
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