At a glance
- Typhus fevers are a group of diseases caused by bacteria that are spread to humans by fleas, lice, and chiggers.
- Typhus fevers include flea-borne (murine) typhus, epidemic typhus and scrub typhus.
- Fleas spread flea-borne typhus, body lice spread epidemic typhus, and chiggers spread scrub typhus.
- The most common symptoms are fever, headaches, and sometimes rash.
Overview
Flea-borne typhus
Flea-borne typhus, also called murine typhus or endemic typhus, is a disease caused by the bacteria Rickettsia typhi. Flea-borne typhus is spread to people through contact with infected fleas, most commonly the Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopsis) and the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis).
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About Flea-borne Typhus
Epidemic typhus
Epidemic typhus, also called louse-borne typhus, is an uncommon disease caused by bacteria called R. prowazekii. Epidemic typhus is spread to people through contact with infected body lice.
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Epidemic Typhus
Scrub typhus
Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites).
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About Scrub Typhus