Typhoid Fever

This condition is also known as enteric fever and is a major infectious disease occurring due to the activity of the bacterium named Salmonella typhi (S.typhi). This disease is contagious and spreads through contaminated food and water. Estimates show that about 13 to 17 million get affected with this worldwide, in a year. About 600,000 deaths are reported annually.

This disease is more frequent in developing countries than those developed, owing to the comparatively low standards in food and sanitary facilities. Countries like South America, South Africa and India are few among the ones where the Typhoid fever even emerges as an epidemic. Hence it is always better to receive a vaccination against this condition in case you are visiting these places.

Causes

Typhoid fever may occur if drinking water gets contaminated, if food is prepared by an infected individual without adequate hygiene, or if food is contaminated by flies transferring the germs from faeces.

The causative organism will be present in the stool and urine of the infected person and if he/she is not particular in maintaining adequate hygiene, there are more chances of spreading the disease. Once the organism is within the body, it rapidly multiplies within the bloodstream and symptoms will be present starting with fever. The bacteria spread to different parts of the body and once it reaches the small intestine, it causes very severe diarrhoea and is the second infectious phase.

As the organism is highly tolerant to extremes of the temperature, following very high standards in food preparation and storage is necessary in order to prevent this condition. An infected person should be placed in isolation during the initial weeks as it is more contagious in this period. Not only an infected person, but also a carrier is also capable of spreading it.

Symptoms

Typhoid symptoms differ from one to another and depend on the amount of pathogens present. About 1-3 weeks is required for the incubation period. The 2 different stages include

First phase

This is featured with fever and headache. The temperature even rises up to 103-104°F (39-40°C). Other symptoms include anorexia, joint pain, perspiration, soreness of throat and a sense of sickness.

The person also will have constipation and abdominal pain and may also develop rose-coloured spots. Infected children will suffer from vomiting and diarrhoea. The duration of the first week is not more than a week.

Second phase

In the second phase, the person will have very high fever. Pulse rate drops and t6he person even will be in a state of confusion. There may be enlargement of the spleen and liver even.

Treatment

Early detection and treatment is very much important as the condition if left untreated may be fatal. Ampicillin and Chloramphenicol are the two most effective antibiotics in this case. In chronic cases, corticosteroids can be better effective. A person needs to be hospitalizes and should be under complete bed rest.