A75: Typhus fever
Typhus fever is a group of infectious diseases caused by Rickettsia bacteria. These infections are spread through the bites of insects, primarily fleas, mites, or lice, that are infected with this bacteria. The three main types of typhus are epidemic (lice-borne), which is the most severe, murine (flea-borne), and scrub (mite-borne), each with distinct characteristics but sharing common symptoms. Common symptoms of typhus fever include a high fever, chills, headache, body aches, and a rash usually appearing about one week after initial infection. As the disease progresses, it can affect multiple systems in the body, leading to complications like pneumonia, central nervous system problems, kidney failure, and in very severe cases, death. Importantly, typhus fever is treatable with appropriate antibiotics when diagnosed early. Its presence is more common in crowded and unsanitary conditions, where the host insects thrive.
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