typhus, scrub A mite-borne infectious disease that is caused by the microorganism Orientia (formerly Rickettsia) tsutsugamushi. Characteristic symptoms include fever, headache, a raised (macular) rash, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and a dark crusted ulcer, called an eschar or tache noire, at the site of the chigger (mite larva) bite. Scrub typhus occurs in the area bounded by Japan, India, and Australia. Also known as Tsutsugamushi disease, mite-borne typhus, and tropical typhus. See also rickettsial diseases.

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