Typhoid is a serious bacterial infection that can lead to high fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. It is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria, passed on to humans through contaminated water or foods. Typhoid fever is highly contagious and can be passed on from an infected person to another by accidentally coming in contact with their poop (stools) or pee (urine), in a rare case. The disease can easily be treated with antibiotics when detected on time. If left untreated, it can even turn fatal, especially for children.
Typhoid fever is quite common across the globe, especially in developing countries. Every year about 12.5 million persons are affected with the typhoid virus in different parts of the world.
Point2: Symptoms
The symptoms of typhoid start to appear a week or two after the infection. High fever for up to 104°F (39°C to 40°C) and rashes particularly on the neck and abdomen are the two most common symptoms of these infectious diseases. Other common signs may include:
Weakness
Stomach ache
Headache
Loss of appetite
Brain fogging
Constipation or diarrhoea
Muscle aches
Point3: Other Symptons
In rare cases, it can even lead to intestinal bleeding or perforations in the intestine. If left untreated for a long time, it can lead to serious complications, which may include:
Pneumonia
Kidney or bladder infection
Pancreatitis
Myocarditis
Endocarditis
Meningitis
Delirium, hallucinations, paranoid psychosis
Point4: Causes
Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria, which belongs to the same family that causes a serious intestinal infection called salmonellosis. The bacteria can only be transferred by drinking or eating food and beverages contaminated with Salmonella typhi. Once being infected with the pathogen, one can spread it to others through the faecal route. The bacteria can survive for weeks in water or dried sewage.
Typhoid carriers
Even after antibiotic treatment, some infected people continue to harbour a small number of bacteria. These people are referred to as chronic carriers. They particularly may not show any signs or symptoms of infection, still shed the bacteria in their faeces, which can easily infect others. But this happens in a rare case. Only 3 to 5 per cent of people recovered from typhoid become carriers of the bacteria after the acute illness. They can be the source of new outbreaks for many years.
Point5: Prevention
The bacteria is spread through infected food and water. You must drink clean water, keep your surroundings clean and seek adequate medical help to prevent and control typhoid fever. Here are a few things you must practice regularly to prevent the bacterial infection.
Wash your hands properly: Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching contaminated surfaces, eating foods, preparing foods and coughing or sneezing. Cleaning your hands with soap and water or 70 per cent alcohol-based sanitizers for 30 seconds is the best way to control infection.
Avoid drinking untreated water: Drinking contaminated water is the common cause of typhoid infection. Always drink bottled water or purified water. If it is not possible then boil the water before drinking it.
Clean raw fruits and vegetables: There are high chances that raw products may have been washed in contaminated water. So, do not eat any raw vegetables or fruits without washing it. Bring them home and wash them properly in clean water and baking soda solution before eating or cooking.
Eat hot foods: Avoid consuming foods that are stored at room temperature. That's because bacteria grow at a rapid speed in room temperature. Always prefer to eat hot food, even when you are out in a restaurant.
Point6: How to protect others from infection
In case you have been infected with the virus, you need to take extra care to prevent it from spreading to others. Here are a few things you must do to keep people around you safe:
Complete your antibiotic dose: Make sure you complete your dose of antibiotics. Leaving the treatment midway can make the bacteria resistant to antibiotics and increase the risk of complication.
Wash your hands often: This is the most important thing to do to keep from spreading the infection to others. Scrub your hands properly from 30 seconds with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers often.
Avoid handling food: Avoid preparing food for others till the time you are longer contagious.
Point7: Vaccination
For most healthy people typhoid vaccination is not necessary. But in special cases, your doctor may recommend you to get one. You may be asked to get vaccinated if you are:
- A carrier
- In close contact with a carrier
- Travelling to a country where typhoid is common
Most typhoid vaccines are only 50 to 80 per cent effective. Repeated immunization is required as the effectiveness wears off over time. Vaccination can be two types:
Inactivated typhoid vaccine: This vaccine is a one-dose injection and provides protection only for two years.
Live typhoid vaccine: It’s an oral vaccine given in four doses, two days apart. One needs booster shots after every five years.
None of the two vaccines provides complete protection, which makes it even more important to follow other preventive guidelines.
Point8: Diagnosis
After entering the body, the bacteria invades the small intestine and enter the bloodstream temporarily. From there it is carried to different parts of the body like liver, spleen, and bone marrow by the white blood cells where they multiply and reenter the bloodstream. It is only at this point, people start showing mild symptoms like fever and rashes. From the bloodstream, the infection-causing bacteria enter the gallbladder, biliary system, and the lymphatic tissue of the bowel. They start multiplying rapidly and then move to the intestinal tract and pass into the stool. So, for diagnosis doctors often first physically examine the person and then prescribe a culture test, with a small sample of your blood, stool, urine or bone marrow.
Point9: Treatment
Once the traces of typhoid bacteria is confirmed in your body, the doctors often resort to antibiotic therapy to bring down the fever and tackle other symptoms. Antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin and Ceftriaxone are prescribed on a usual basis. Besides, the patient is also recommended to drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration caused due to prolonged fever and diarrhoea.
Source: Times of India
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