Typhus Topic Guide

A fever is a body temperature of 100.4 F or greater. A fever may be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, blood clot, tumor, drug, or the environment. Treatment of fever in adults usually involves ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin.

What are causes, symptoms, and treatment (acetaminophen) of fever in children? Learn when to worry, when a high fever is an emergency, and how to take a rectal temperature.

What causes headaches? Even when mild, headaches can be a cause for concern. Learn about potential causes, types, home remedies, and treatment.

Lice infestation (pediculosis) is common. Itch is the main symptom of a lice infestation. Lice treatment involves using anti-lice agents, removing nits with a fine-tooth comb, washing and drying all clothes and linens on the hot cycle, and vacuuming floors and furniture.

A bacteria called Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus. Lice infected with this bacteria can transmit epidemic typhus to humans. Louse-borne typhus is another name for epidemic typhus. Signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, confusion, cough, rash, rapid breathing, and headache. The antibiotic doxycycline effectively treats louse-borne typhus.

A bacteria called Rickettsia typhi causes murine typhus. Endemic typhus and flea-borne typhus are other names for murine typhus. Signs and symptoms of murine typhus include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, rash, and body aches. The antibiotic doxycycline is an effective treatment for murine typhus.

A rash is a visible skin outbreak. Examples of noninfectious rashes include eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, hives, and allergic dermatitis. Types of infectious rashes include ringworm, impetigo, scabies, herpes, chickenpox, and shingles. Rashes may be caused by fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Treatment depends upon the type of rash.

Orientia tsutsugamushi is a bacteria that causes bush typhus. Scrub typhus is another name for bush typhus. Infected chiggers transmit this bacterial infection to humans through their bites. Symptoms and signs include fever, headache, confusion, enlarged lymph nodes, rash, coma, eschar, and body aches. The antibiotic doxycycline effectively treats scrub typhus.

Skin rashes in children may be categorized as bacterial, viral, life-threatening, fungal, and parasitic rashes. Oftentimes, the associated symptoms help establish the diagnosis. Treatment depends upon the type of rash and the severity of the signs and symptoms.

Lymph nodes (part of the lymphatic system) may signal infection if they are swollen. Types of conditions that involve swollen lymph nodes include: infection, virus, inflammation, or cancers. Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes depend upon the location. Treatment of swollen lymph nodes also depends upon the location and reason for the enlargement.