typhus

noun ty·phus \ˈtī-fəs\

medical : a serious disease that is carried by small insects that live on the bodies of people and animals and that causes high fever, headache, and a dark red rash

Full Definition of TYPHUS

: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsias: as

a : a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash

b : murine typhus

c : scrub typhus

See typhus defined for English-language learners

See typhus defined for kids

Origin of TYPHUS

New Latin, from Greek typhos fever; akin to Greek typhein to smoke — more at deaf

First Known Use: 1785

TYPHUS Defined for Kids

typhus

noun ty·phus \ˈtī-fəs\

Definition of TYPHUS for Kids

: a disease spread especially by body lice and in which there is high fever, delirium, severe headache, and a dark red rash

Medical Dictionary

typhus

noun ty·phus \ˈtī-fəs\

Medical Definition of TYPHUS

: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsial bacteria: as a : a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash—called also louse-borne typhus b : murine typhus c : scrub typhus