subject: Prevention Of Typhoid Fever [print this page] Typhoid is a common bacterial fever caused due to ingestion of food and water contaminated by feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella typhi, serotype Typhi. Typhoid is also known as typhoid fever, gastric fever, abdominal typhus, infantile remittant fever, slow fever, nervous fever or pythogenic fever. Typhoid fever is an infection that causes diarrhea and rashes, due to the bacteria Salmonella typhi orserotype Typhi.
The bacteria that cause typhoid fever Salmonella typhi orserotype Typhi spread through contaminated water and food. The bacteria enter into the body of person soon after the consumption of contaminated food and water. They first travel into your intestines, and then into your bloodstream, from where they can get to your lymph nodes, gallbladder, liver, spleen, and other different parts of the body. Typhoid fever can be effectively treated through antibiotics and regular medical treatment. But, very few people become the carriers of it and spread diseases by releasing bacteria in their stools. Patient with acute illness pollute the surrounding water supply through stools that contain bacteria. Contaminated water can also pollute the food while cooking. Most of the patients suffer mild typhoid fever that remains unrecognized. Such patient becomes the constant carriers of the bacteria.
The development period is usually one to two weeks, and the duration of the illness is about four to six weeks. The patient experiences;
The patient feels weak, cold and tired.
Headache, backache, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite are other symptoms.
Temperature rises and remains high for about 10-14 days. Body temperature typically rises in the evening and drops in the morning.
Skin eruptions appear, tongue becomes dry and gets white patches in the center, which causes oily taste in mouth and inflamed bones.
Fever comes down gradually by the end of fourth week.
Symptoms of typhoid at an early stage are fever, general ill-feeling and abdominal pain.Some people with typhoid fever develop a rash called "rose spots," which are small red spots on the abdomen and chest.
Abdominal tenderness
Agitation
Bloody stools
Chills
Confusion
Difficulty paying attention (attention deficit)
Delirium
Fluctuating mood
Hallucinations
Nosebleeds
Severe fatigue
Slow, sluggish, lethargic feeling
Weakness
Fluids and electrolytes may be given through a vein (intravenously), or you may be asked to drink uncontaminated water with electrolyte packets.
Appropriate antibiotics are given to kill the bacteria. There are increasing rates of antibiotic resistance throughout the world, so your health care provider will check current recommendations before choosing an antibiotic.
