Murine typhus: Difference between revisions

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*Often presents as acute, self-limited illness, with no complications<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
*Often presents as acute, self-limited illness, with no complications<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
;Most Common Symptoms
;Most Common Symptoms
*Fever- can last ~1 week
*[[Fever]]- can last ~1 week
*Rash
*[[Rash]]
**Macular or maculopapular, blanching, non-pruritic
**Macular or maculopapular, blanching, non-pruritic
**Starts centrally and moves to the extremities
**Starts centrally and moves to the extremities
**Can involve palms/soles but usually sparing
**Can involve palms/soles but usually sparing
**Starts 6-7 days after symptom onset (fever onset)
**Starts 6-7 days after symptom onset (fever onset)
*Headache
*[[Headache]]
*Arthralgias
*[[Arthralgia]]s


;Other Symptoms
;Other Symptoms
*Hepatomegally
*[[Hepatomegaly]]
*Splenomegally
*Splenomegaly
*Cough
*[[Cough]]
*[[Diarrhea]]
*[[Diarrhea]]
*Nausea/Vomiting
*[[Nausea/Vomiting]]
*Abdominal pain
*[[Abdominal pain]]
*Confusion
*[[Confusion]]


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
*Non-specific viral illness
*Non-specific [[viral syndrome|viral illness]]
*Most common admitting diagnosis in one case study was "fever of unknown origin"<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
*Most common admitting diagnosis in one case study was "fever of unknown origin"<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
{{Tick borne illnesses DDX}}
{{Tick borne illnesses DDX}}
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==Evaluation==
==Evaluation==
===Work up===
*Infectious work up
*Infectious work up
**Not sensitive or specific
**Not sensitive or specific
**CBC- can show anemia and thrombocytopenia
**CBC- can show [[anemia]] and [[thrombocytopenia]]
**LFTs- often elevated 3-5x normal
**[[LFTs]]- often elevated 3-5x normal
**Lumbar Puncture- resembles aseptic meningitis  
**[[Lumbar puncture]]- resembles aseptic meningitis  
===Diagnostic labs===
===Diagnostic labs===
*Immunofluorescent assay is the gold standard
*Immunofluorescent assay is the gold standard

Revision as of 16:02, 14 September 2019

Not to be confused with typhoid fever, a distinct disease caused by a different genera of bacteria

Background

  • Also known as "endemic typhus" and "fleaborne typhus"
  • Caused by Rickettsia typhi
    • Gram negative, obligate, intracellular bacterium
    • Replicates in epithelial cells of flea's midgut

Types of Typhus

Multiple diseases include the word "typhus" in their description. Types include:

Condition Bacteria Reservoir/vector Notes
Epidemic "Louse-borne" typhus Rickettsia prowazekii Human Body louse When the term "typhus" is used without clarification, this is usually the condition described. Historical references to "typhus" are now generally considered to be this condition.
Murine typhus or "endemic typhus" Rickettsia typhi Fleas on rats
Scrub typhus Orientia tsutsugamushi Harvest mites on humans or rodents Unlike the two conditions above, though it has the word "typhus" in the name, it is currently usually not classified in the typhus group, but in the closely related spotted fever group.
Queensland tick typhus Rickettsia australis Ticks

Vector

  • Infection is transmitted by fleas
    • Typically rat fleas
    • Also Rickettsia felis (indistinguishable from R. typhi) carried by fleas on opossum and cats
  • Feces containing R. typhi are deposited into wound made by flea bites
  • Found in areas with large populations of urban rats
    • United States
      • Southern Texas
      • Southern California
    • Internationally: Tropical/Subtropical urban seaboard regions
  • Seasonal predilection for summer months
    • Texas: Spring to summer
    • California: Summer to fall

Clinical Features

  • Incubation period: 7-14 days
Rash of Murine Typhus

Symptoms

  • Variable and non-specific
  • Often presents as acute, self-limited illness, with no complications[1]
Most Common Symptoms
  • Fever- can last ~1 week
  • Rash
    • Macular or maculopapular, blanching, non-pruritic
    • Starts centrally and moves to the extremities
    • Can involve palms/soles but usually sparing
    • Starts 6-7 days after symptom onset (fever onset)
  • Headache
  • Arthralgias
Other Symptoms

Differential Diagnosis

  • Non-specific viral illness
  • Most common admitting diagnosis in one case study was "fever of unknown origin"[2]

Tick Borne Illnesses

Fever in traveler

Evaluation

Diagnostic labs

  • Immunofluorescent assay is the gold standard
    • Becomes diagnostic with time. Rarely positive at onset of illness.
  • PCR

Management

  • Doxycycline 100mg BID continue for 3 days after resolution of symptoms[3]
    • Children - 2.2mg/kg BID
  • Chloramphenicol 50-100mg/kg/day div Q6hr (Max dose = 4g/day)

See Also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.
  2. ↑ Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.
  3. ↑ Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.
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