Possible Indicators of Murine Typhus
At 19 years old and weighing 208 pounds, I am not currently on any medications. Recently, I spent time around cats that were infested with fleas, and shortly after, I began experiencing intense headaches. Within a couple of days, nausea and vomiting followed. I have undergone several tests, including those for flu, COVID-19, strep throat, and mono, along with a comprehensive blood workup, all of which returned normal results. Additionally, I had a CT scan performed due to the increasing severity of my headache, and everything appeared fine. I typically do not suffer from migraines of such intensity or duration. I went to the emergency room and received a treatment for migraines, but it provided only slight relief. Yesterday, I discovered a lump on the area of my head where the pain has been most pronounced. I haven't experienced any trauma or impact to that area. After researching, I found that my symptoms are reminiscent of murine typhus. Given the unusual timing of my symptoms, I suspect it could be a possibility. However, when I approached my doctor about testing for this, she declined, citing my normal blood panel as a reason. Is it possible to have murine typhus despite a healthy blood test? Should I trust her assessment that it’s unlikely I have it? The situation feels particularly peculiar to me.
Answers (1)
3/25/2025, 2:30:52 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you’re experiencing a concerning set of symptoms, especially after being around flea-infested cats. While murine typhus can indeed be a consideration given your exposure, it’s important to analyze your situation carefully.
Murine typhus is a bacterial infection typically transmitted by fleas, and its symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. However, normal blood tests are an encouraging sign, as they may indicate that your body is not fighting a severe infection at this moment. It’s possible to have early stages of infections that might not show up in routine blood work, but your doctor's assessment is likely based on clinical guidelines and the typical presentation of murine typhus.
Explanation:
- Headaches, nausea, and vomiting can be caused by various conditions, not solely by infections. The lump on your head is particularly noteworthy and should not be ignored, as it could suggest other issues that might need evaluation.
- It’s reassuring that your CT scan was normal, ruling out more serious conditions like bleeding or structural issues in the brain.
Next Steps:
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep track of any changes in your symptoms, especially if the headache worsens, or if you develop new symptoms like fever or a rash.
-
Lump Evaluation: Pay close attention to the lump found on your head. If it changes in size, becomes painful, or if you experience new symptoms, you should seek further evaluation promptly.
-
Second Opinion: Consider consulting with another healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms and concerns about murine typhus. Express your worries and the context of your exposure; they may suggest further testing or observations.
-
Stay Hydrated and Rest: Continue to rest and maintain hydration. Sometimes symptoms can linger due to fatigue or dehydration.
-
Seek Immediate Help if Necessary: If you experience sudden changes, such as confusion, difficulty speaking, severe headache different from your usual pain, or fever, seek urgent medical help.
Your discomfort and concerns are valid, and it’s important to find clarity about your health. Keep the lines of communication with your healthcare providers open and don’t hesitate to advocate for yourself.
Related Questions
Assessing My Health Concerns: How Anxious Should I Be?
I’m a 32-year-old woman, weighing 124 pounds and standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall. For over a year, I have been experiencing bright red rectal bleeding. Initially, I attributed this issue to hemorrhoids that developed during my pregnancy two years ago. The bleeding occurs with most of my bowel movements, sometimes happens without one, and on a few occasions, has been enough to stain the toilet bowl significantly. The color of the blood is typically darker than what I observe during a hemorrhoid flare-up. There is a notable family history of bowel cancer on both sides; one family member was diagnosed at age 45, and another at 60. In the past six months, I have encountered several episodes of severe abdominal pain—3 to 4 instances—intense enough to consider a trip to the emergency room. However, the pain usually subsides within about an hour. It’s unusual for me to experience such acute pain, given my high tolerance for discomfort; for example, I once played rugby shortly after dislocating and fracturing my finger. Recently, I mustered the courage to consult with my doctor, who recommended a FIT test, which returned a positive result (30.1). Additionally, I underwent a complete blood test, and aside from having low ferritin levels (7 µg/L), all other results were normal. I have since been referred for a colonoscopy on a two-week waiting list to rule out any possible bowel cancer. Given these circumstances, how concerned should I be? Thank you for your input.
Persistent Pain in Right Shoulder and Arm After Lifting
Hello, everyone! I’m a 23-year-old male and have been engaged in weightlifting for several years now. Recently, I’ve been struggling with ongoing discomfort in my right shoulder and arm, which I haven’t been able to accurately identify. The pain manifests during particular movements, especially with lateral raises or when my arm is raised to shoulder level while rotating my wrist. Certain pressing and pulling activities can also provoke this discomfort. Rather than feeling sharp, it’s a deep, nagging sensation that sometimes seems localized in the front area of the shoulder or at the biceps tendon, and at other times it feels more like it’s situated between the shoulder and upper arm. Fortunately, there’s no numbness or tingling involved. This issue began while I was working out. I decided to take a break for around two months, but when I returned, the pain persisted. After consulting a physician, I was diagnosed with bicipital tendinitis. Since then, I’ve reduced my upper-body workouts, completely steering clear of shoulder exercises and heavy lifting, and have begun a gentle rehabilitation regimen focusing on external rotations, pendulum movements, and scapular exercises. Despite adhering to this routine for about a week, I haven’t experienced any noticeable improvement. Is it typical for this type of tendon injury to require an extended period for recovery? At what point should I consider diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI? Additionally, are there frequent rehabilitation errors that might impede the healing process? I appreciate your insights in advance!
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
INTENSE Spine Discomfort, Breathing Difficulties, Muscle Twitches, and Sweating
To elaborate on the situation mentioned in the title, I’ve been experiencing unusual muscle twitches and spasms for the past few days, along with some discomfort in my back. However, today, I felt an unexpected sharp pain shoot through my spine, which has left my legs feeling numb and made it impossible for me to sit up straight. Additionally, I’ve been dealing with cold sweats for the last hour and struggling to breathe properly. Perhaps I’m just overanalyzing things and it’s a common occurrence, but the intensity of the pain is overwhelming—it's truly unbearable. I’m shaking quite a bit, and unfortunately, my parents aren’t responding to my attempts to reach them for help. I have a history of a chronic heart condition and arthritis, yet I’ve never experienced pain this severe, especially in my spine. For context, I am nearly 15 years old and female. My current medications include pain relievers, anxiety medication, beta blockers, and some vitamins, though those specifics may not be particularly relevant. I don’t smoke; however, I have tried vaping a few times, which might not matter much, but I thought it was worth mentioning as it was requested.
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.