WHAT IS TYPHOID FEVER AND ITS CAUSES

Typhoid fever is a type of acute illness, the bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi. It is usually spread by eating or drinking contaminated food and water. Bacteria enter through the mouth and lives in the intestine and bloodstream of humans. It usually spends 1-3 weeks in the intestine. It is a type of enteric fever along with paratyphoid fever. It mostly occurs in young children and adults between 5 and 19 years of age.

HOW THE TYPHOID FEVER BEGINS

Symptoms begin after 6-30 days of exposure.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TYPHOID

Contamination from a person who is already suffering from typhoid, traveling to those areas where the disease is much more prevalent and drinking/eating contaminated food or water.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH TYPHOID

Common symptoms are fever, poor appetite, diarrhea, weakness, constipation, abdominal pain, and headaches. It may vary from mild to severe. Fever reaches up to 104 F. Diarrhea is uncommon and vomiting is not usually severe. Some people also develop a skin rash with rose colored spots.

HOW IS TYPHOID FEVER DIAGNOSED

Diagnosis can be made by detecting the presence of bacteria via urine, blood, stool or bone marrow sample. Bone marrow culture is the most sensitive test, but it is rarely required except in patients who have already received antibiotics and not getting better from the medicines. Widal antigen test can also be done, but there is a longer waiting phase of about 10 days till results can be seen, it is time-consuming and could give false positive results.

WHAT ARE THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR TYPHOID FEVER

Prevention can be done by better sanitation, hand washing, and drinking clean water. Typhoid fever spread in that environment where human feces are able to come into contact with food or drinking water. It can be prevented by maintaining sanitation and hygiene methods. Careful food preparation and washing of hands before meals eliminates the risk of contamination too much extent. Fluid intake should be increased. Make a habit of washing hands using restrooms, before eating or cooking food. Two typhoid vaccines have been found to prevent the disease. Oral Ty21 and another one is injectable typhoid polysaccharide vaccine. Both are recommended to those people who travel to those areas where the disease is endemic.

WHAT ARE TREATMENT OPTIONS OF TYPHOID FEVER

Choice of drug treatment is fluoroquinolone such as CIPROFLOXACIN. Third-generation cephalosporins, such as CEFTRIAXONE or CEFOTAXIME is the first choice. Cefixime is a suitable oral treatment. If left untreated, it persists for 3 weeks to a month and death occurs in 10-30% of cases. Vaccines are not 100% effective, caution is advised while drinking or eating. Due to increased resistance to ciprofloxacin, new choices of drugs are Azithromycin and Ceftriaxone.

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In cases of intestinal perforation, surgery is advised.

WHAT CAN BE THE COMPLICATIONS OF TYPHOID FEVER

Serious complications due to typhoid like pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation of meninges of brain), infection in bones (osteomyelitis), intestinal perforation and intestinal hemorrhage.