Murine Typhus

12 Nov 2024 13:41:33 pm

Tags : Murine Typhus

Topic: Diseases

Why in the news?

A 75-year-old man from Kerala who recently travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia was diagnosed with the bacterial disease murine typhus.
After completing his trip, the patient sought medical attention, complaining of body pain and fatigue. Tests for rat-induced and flea-borne diseases were inconclusive, although it was found that his liver and kidney functions were deteriorating.
After considering his travel history, the doctors suspected his ailment to be a case of murine typhus. This marks the first case of the rare disease reported in the state.

Source: The Indian Express

About Murine Typhus:

It is an infectious disease caused by the flea-borne bacteria Rickettsia typhi.
It is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas.
It is also known as endemic typhus, flea-borne typhus or flea-borne spotted fever.
Rodents like rats, mice and mongoose, are known to be reservoirs of the disease.
The disease-carrying fleas can also live on other small mammals, including pets such as cats and dogs. Once a flea is infected, it can spread the disease for the rest of its life.
It can also transmit through exposure of mucous membranes to infected flea faeces.
It is spread when infected flea faeces come into contact with cuts or scrapes in the skin.
It is not spread from one person to another, or from person to fleas.
It has been reported in coastal tropical and subtropical regions, where rats are prevalent.
In India, cases of murine typhus have been reported in the Northeast, Madhya Pradesh and Kashmir.
The symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after the exposure and include fever, headaches, body aches, joint pains, nausea, vomiting, and stomach aches.
- Some people may later develop rashes on the skin, days after the initial symptoms.
There is no vaccine currently available against the disease.
- The antibiotic doxycycline is considered effective in therapy, but early diagnosis is vital for treatment.