Where is rickettsia prowazekii most likely to be found

The disease may also be spread when a person breathes in infected dried lice feces in dust. The way that the disease is spread from flying squirrels to humans is not well understood.

Common symptoms include high fever, headache, chills, tiredness and muscle aches. About half of people who are infected develop a flat red rash that begins on the back, chest and stomach and then spreads to the rest of the body except for the face, palms and soles. Other symptoms may include vomiting, eye sensitivity to light, and confusion.

In severe cases, complications of illness may include kidney failure and brain inflammation encephalitis. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 7 to 14 days after exposure, but usually appear around 12 days after exposure. Epidemic Typhus. Minus Related Pages.

On This Page. Figure 1: Pediculus humanus corporis, the human body louse. Figure 2: Glaucomys volans, the southern flying squirrel. Top of Page. The easiest way to prevent typhus is by avoiding the pests that spread it. Use tick, mite, and insect repellant. You might associate fleas with your pets, but they feast on humans too. Learn how to recognize fleabites, how to treat them, and how to get rid of the…. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is most often seen in the southeastern United States.

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It can also cause many additional effects, including loss of appetite. Severe pain can sometimes make…. Photosensitivity is an extreme sensitivity to UV rays from the sun.

Most people are at risk of developing sunburn during long exposure to sunlight…. Swine flu, or H1N1, is highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person. A simple sneeze may cause thousands of germs to spread through…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. There are three different types of typhus: epidemic louse-borne typhus endemic murine typhus scrub typhus The type of typhus you are infected with depends on what bit you.

Picture of typhus. Share on Pinterest. Rickettsia prowazekii Epidemic or Louse-Borne Typhus. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Churchill Livingston, Chapter Mooty M, Lutwick LI.

Epidemic Typhus Fever. Beyond Anthrax. Humana Press, Chapter 8. Background Epidemic typhus is caused by infection with Rickettsia prowazekii , which is carried and transmitted by body lice. Transmission Epidemic typhus is contracted through the bite of lice, chiefly the human body louse. Infection Control Measures Eradication of body lice is the chief means of halting the spread of disease; consequently, insecticides are the mainstay of prevention.

Signs and Symptoms After infection via louse bite, an incubation period of 8 to 16 days ensues. Gangrene of the distal extremities can occur in severe cases.

Diagnosis and Countermeasures As no rapid test is available, serological testing is employed for diagnosis. Last reviewed December 1,