Diseases

Epidemic Louse-Borne Typhus

The classic form of typhus, caused by RICKETTSIA PROWAZEKII, which is transmitted from man to man by the louse Pediculus humanus corporis. This disease is characterized by the sudden onset of intense headache, malaise, and generalized myalgia followed by the formation of a macular skin eruption and vascular and neurologic disturbances.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The classic form of typhus, caused by RICKETTSIA PROWAZEKII, which is transmitted from man to man by the louse Pediculus humanus corporis. This disease is characterized by the sudden onset of intense headache, malaise, and generalized myalgia followed by the formation of a macular skin eruption and vascular and neurologic disturbances.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

19 entry terms
  • Epidemic Typhus
  • Jail Fever
  • Louse-Borne Typhus
  • Rickettsia prowazekii Infection
  • Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne
  • Fever, Jail
  • Infection, Rickettsia prowazekii
  • Louse Borne Typhus
  • Louse-Borne Typhus, Epidemic
  • Rickettsia prowazekii Infections
  • Typhus, Epidemic
  • Typhus, Epidemic Louse Borne
  • Typhus, Louse-Borne
  • Brill Disease
  • Brill's Disease
  • Brill-Zinsser Disease
  • Typhus
  • Brill Zinsser Disease
  • Brills Disease

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

36 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, transmission, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

77; was TYPHUS 1963-76; BRILL'S DISEASE was heading 1975-96 (see under TYPHUS, EPIDEMIC LOUSE-BORNE 1977-90, see under TYPHUS 1975-76), was see under TYPHUS 1963-74; BRILL-ZINSSER DISEASE was see BRILL'S DISEASE 1992-96

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C01w.150.252w.400w.789.725w.805w
  2. C01w.920.914.725w.805w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Epidemic Louse-Borne Typhus. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D014438. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D014438
  2. Epidemic Louse-Borne Typhus. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemic_typhus
  3. Epidemic Louse-Borne Typhus. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1290616