Louse-borne relapsing fever

An infection that is caused by certain species of rickettsia or borrelia, which are transmitted to humans from infected lice;

Cause of Louse-borne Relapsing Fever (LBRF)

LBRF is caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria, Borrelia recurrentis, which is transmitted from human to human by the body louse.

Risk factors

LBRF outbreaks most commonly occur in conditions of overcrowding and social disruption.

Symptoms

• It is characterized by sudden fever, chills, headaches, myalgia, arthralgia, nausea, and possibly a rash.
• Symptoms usually persist for two to nine days, then disappear, with recurrence after several weeks if the patient remains untreated.
• Illness can be severe, with mortality of 30 to 70% in outbreaks.

History

• LBRF epidemics occurred frequently in Europe during the early 20th Century.
• Between 1919 and 1923, 13 million cases resulting in 5 million deaths occurred in the social upheaval that overtook Russia and eastern Europe. * During World War II, a million cases occurred in North Africa.

Rare today

Today, LBRF causes sporadic illness and outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in regions affected by war and in refugee camps. LBRF is commonly found in Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia.

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