Epidemic typhus facts for kids

Epidemic typhus is a disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia prowazekii. It is one of the diseases known as Typhus, the other is endemic typhus. Sometimes it is mistaken for an unrelated disease with a similar name, Typhoid fever. The disease is spread by lice and fleas. Without treatment, as many as 60% of people who get the disease could die.

Signs of the disease

The signs of epidemic typhus include:

• Chills
• Cough
• Fever
• Pain in the joints
• Pain in muscles
• Eyes sensitive to light
• Low blood pressure
• Rash
• Headache
• Stupor

Images for kids

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  A U.S. soldier is demonstrating DDT-hand spraying equipment. DDT was used to control the spread of typhus-carrying lice during WWII.

See also

In Spanish: Tifus exantemático epidémico para niños