Have you ever thought that a glass of water or food could turn your life around? The bacterial infection known as typhoid fever brought on by Salmonella Typhi is just one of those that demonstrate how important hygiene is when it comes to avoiding diseases. Typhoid fever remains an important worldwide health issue characterized by severe disease states and symptoms, especially in populations with poor water supply and sanitation.
Here, you’ll find information on the signs, risk factors, ways to avoid contracting the disease, and various treatments available for typhoid fever.
Symptoms of Typhoid Fever
Typically typhoid fever is characterized by a slow onset, symptoms may take 1 – 3 weeks to develop after infection. The most common symptoms include:
❖ High Fever: Fever that is chronic and can reach a level of about 104 degrees Fahrenheit / 40 degrees Celsius.
❖ Weakness and Fatigue: Weakness and tiredness that would come physically, mentally, and emotionally when a person is extremely stressed out.
❖ Abdominal Pain: Stomach ache or stomach pain.
❖ Loss of Appetite: Loss of appetite or even anorexia, this is the complete or partial lack of or desire to eat food.
❖ Rash: Pink-coloured areas, especially on the chest and abdomen.
❖ Headache: Migraine-type headaches are frequent and often are localized extremely severe and unyielding.
❖ Constipation or Diarrhea: Gastrointestinal upset might range.
If no treatment is administered then the symptoms may worsen and the condition may lead to complications like; Intestinal perforation Internal bleeding, and Death.
Causes of Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever is caused by the heat-resistant bacteria Salmonella Typhi that carries through food and water. Here’s how:
❖ Contaminated Water Sources: Contamination of water which has not been treated is a major hazard.
❖ Improper Food Handling: It can be contracted by taking food prepared in unhygienic environments, for example, undercooked food preparation can spread the bacteria.
❖ Poor Sanitation: Flu, typhoid and cholera are encouraged by poor or no sewage systems and poor waste disposal.
❖ Close Contact with Infected Individuals: Close contact with an affected person is another method of transmission of the bacteria that causes the infection.
How Does Typhoid Fever Spread?
Typhoid fever is a zoonotic disease and is commonly transmitted by ingestion of food or water that has been contaminated by the faeces of the infected person. The two specific lapses are the inability to wash hands properly after the use of a wash hand basin and before handling food.
Diagnosing Typhoid Fever
In case you think you are afflicted with typhoid fever, early diagnosis is essential. Physicians often use the following methods:
1. Blood Culture: It is used to diagnose the presence of Salmonella Typhi bacteria in your body, specifically in your bloodstream.
2. Stool and Urine Tests: For the detection of bacterium excretion through the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Widal Test: Another method that is older but still in use is the identification of antibodies to the bacteria.
Appropriate diagnosis guarantees that it does not progress to worse stages as it can cause other complications.
Treatment Options for Typhoid Fever
Treatment for typhoid fever involves both medication and supportive care:
1. Antibiotics
Other antibiotics known to eliminate the bacteria are azithromycin, ceftriaxone ciprofloxacin and others of their generation. Nevertheless, the rise of antibiotic resistance is persistent, therefore early treatment is required for chronic disease.
2. Hydration and Nutrition
Nourishing is important because stomach flu, flu, or any disease accompanied by fever makes a child dehydrated. ORS and a good diet is a good weapon to fight the infection and aid in its treatment.
3. Hospitalization
In the worst-case scenario, hospitalization may be required for intravenous administration of antibiotics and fluids.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Preventing typhoid fever is entirely possible with some proactive measures:
1. Vaccination
Two types of typhoid vaccines are available:
❖ Oral Vaccine: An oral vaccine prepared from the patient’s infected material and given for several consecutive days.
❖ Injectable Vaccine: A vaccine that works differently from conventional shots and protects the person for a couple of years under one injection.
Travelers going to certain regions especially those considered vulnerable are advised to get vaccinated.
2. Safe Food and Water Practices
❖ Do not consume tap water or water that came from a house where you have seen dirty water such as water from a tap, a fountain or a jug.
❖ Do not consume your foods raw or partially cooked, or any type of seafood and avoid vendors on the street.
❖ Some of the measures include; Always wash fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
3. Hand Hygiene
❖ Wash with soap and water after using the washroom and before you touch anything related to food preparation or consumption.
❖ If you can’t use soap, the next best option is to use alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
4. Improved Sanitation
❖ Community cross-sectional prevalence can be prevented through proper investment in sewage and waste management systems.
Complications of Typhoid Fever
If left untreated, typhoid fever can lead to severe complications, such as:
❖ Intestinal Perforation: Frightening disease and emergency operation that has to be conducted in the near future.
❖ Sepsis: They can also become systemic infecting the bloodstream.
❖ Neurological Symptoms: In most severe cases, the patients may also suffer from confusion or delirium.
These complications can therefore only be prevented if there is an early diagnosis of the disease and early treatment.
Typhoid Fever in Children
This is particularly true in children, and particularly in infants, the immunity against common causes of diseases is low. For this reason, parents should also go the extra extent to make sure that children eat clean, use clean water, and maintain high levels of hygiene.
Global Impact of Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever is common in developing countries, especially in South Asia, Africa and some parts of South America. Some of the causes include; high population density; poor hygiene; and even diseases ending health care.
Typhoid fever is thought to cause 11–21 million cases every year worldwide with 128,000 to 161,000 deaths annually –Source; World Health Organization (WHO).
Myths vs. Facts About Typhoid Fever
Let’s debunk some common myths:
1. Myth: Typhoid fever is synonymous with the typhus.
❖ Fact: Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi while typhus is influenced by other bacterias occasioned by lice or fleas.
2. Myth: In the past children from low-income families on families could contract the disease and couldn’t prevent themselves from getting typhoid fever.
❖ Fact: Vaccination and maintaining personal hygiene are efficient ways to avoid the disease.
3. Myth: If you do get it [typhoid] you never get it again.”
❖ Fact: One can be infected by the disease more than once if one is in an area with a bad health standard.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If you or a family member gets a high fever, severe belly ache or any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is better to seek help from a medical doctor at once. Prevention is better than cure because in some cases, intervention can be the difference between life and death.
For more such related content read our blogs on Treatments.
Key Takeaways
This is an ailment that can be prevented and treated yet the world over it poses a major health risk. It is therefore important for people to have knowledge of this disease, get checked early and prevent itself.
We defend ourselves and the societies we live in by embracing cleanliness, taking vaccines, and educating others about the disease.