Typhus

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

Treatment includes antibiotics such as:

• Doxycycline
• Tetracycline
• Chloramphenicol (less common)

Tetracycline taken by mouth can permanently stain teeth that are still forming. It is usually not prescribed for children until after all of their permanent teeth have grown in.

Patients with epidemic typhus may need intravenous fluids and oxygen.

Without treatment, death may occur in 10 - 60% of patients with epidemic typhus. Patients over age 60 have the highest risk of death. Patients who receive treatment quickly should completely recover.

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Less than 2% of untreated patients with murine typhus may die. Prompt antibiotic treatment will cure nearly all patients.

• Renal insufficiency
• Pneumonia
• Central nervous system damage

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of typhus. This serious disorder can require emergency care.

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).