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Typhus

Alternative Names: Murine typhus; Epidemic typhus; Endemic typhus; Brill-Zinsser disease; Jail fever Treatment: The goal of treatment is to eliminate the infection and to treat the symptoms with antibiotics (such as tetracycline, doxycycline, or chloramphenicol). For epidemic typhus, intravenous fluids and oxygen may be necessary to help stabilize the patient. Text Continues Below Note: Oral tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all the permanent teeth have erupted. It can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming. Expectations (prognosis): Without treatment death may occur in 10 to 60% of patients with epidemic typhus. Patients over the age of 60 have the highest risk of death. With timely antibiotic therapy, the affected person is expected to recover completely. Less than 2% of untreated patients with murine typhus may die, and appropriate antibiotic therapy will cure virtually all patients. Complications: renal insufficiency pneumonia central nervous system damage Calling your health care provider: Call your health care provider if symptoms of any type of typhus develop. This serious disorder can require emergency care.

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