Typhus
Sebastisn R.
Typhus is one of the most deadliest disease in the world.
What is Typhus?
Typhus is a deadly disease that can make your body fell very weak. It is caused by a bacteria called Rickettsia. It is no transmitted from person to person like a cold. The name comes from the Greek word "Typhos." I wouldn't recommend getting diagnosed with it.
What are the symtoms of Typhus?
Typhus can make people feel weak. It can also give people backache, abdominal pain, and headache. Dull red rash that begins on the middle of the body spreads. The worst ones are the hacking, dry cough, extremely high fever that goes up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit which may last up to 2 weeks. I forgot to also say tag they also give people joint, muclse pain, and nausea.
Treatment and prevention
The treatment includes antibiotics such as Doxycycline and Tetracycline. Tetracycline if taken by mouth can permanently stain teeth that are still forming. People with a certain type of typhus may need intravenous fluid s and oxygen. You would need to avoid areas where you might encounter rat fleas or lice. Good sanitation and good health measures reduce the rat population.
Causes
Typhus is not transmitted from person to person like a cold or the flu. Arthropods are typically carriers of one typhus strain unique to them.
Types of typhus and carriers:
- epidemic/louse-borne typhus (caused by Rickettsia prowazekii) carried by the body-louse
- murine typhus (caused by R. typhi) carried by the rat or cat flea
- scrub typhus (caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi) carried by mites