Typhus

Typhus takes its name from the Greek word "typhos," meaning smoke, which accurately describes the mental state of infected persons. Typhus is marked by a severe stupor and delirium, as well as headache, chills, and fever. A rash appears within four to seven days after the onset of the disease. The rash starts on the trunk and spreads to the extremities. In milder forms of typhus, such as endemic typhus, the disease symptoms are not severe. In epidemic and scrub typhus, however, the symptoms are extreme, and death can result from complications such as stroke, renal failure, and circulatory disturbances. Fatality can be avoided in these forms of typhus with the prompt administration of antibiotics.