Typhoid; Gentle but dangerous and Scary

Typhoid fever, also known as an INTESTINAL FEVER is a potential serious illness that affects many system of the body. A group of bacteria called SALMONELLA TYPHI causes it.

According to the estimation of the
World Health Organization, it is estimated that 21 million cases of typhoid fever and about 200 thousand deaths is recorded yearly, mostly in developing countries.

 

The common mode of infection is by ingestion of an infecting dose of the organism, usually through contaminated water or food. Therefore, when an individual is infected, the carrier becomes a reservoir for the bacteria and ultimately a source of infection to the others.

              

Within one week of infection, the bacteria is present in the bloodstream; after one week, the victim begins to shed the bacteria through stool, and after the second week, he begins to shed through stool and urine.

The circle of infection is such that oral transmission comes through food, beverages, fruit and water, etc., handled by individual who sheds the bacteria through tool or urine. It also comes through hand-to-mouth transmission after using a contaminated toilet and neglecting hand hygiene.

 

In the communities’ settings like villages, schools, hostels, churches, public toilets, etc., poor hygiene and sewage contamination of water supply are the most important means of transmission.

 

Advances in public health and hygiene have led to the virtual disappearance of the killer disease TYPHOID FEVER in the developed world, while the disease remains endemic in many developing countries.

The presentation of this killer disease named typhoid is varied depending on the stage of the disease and the severity. The first step to the symptom is the appearance of feverish feelings, which rises gradually within the first few days.

The fever may fluctuate and get worse by the day, setting around 39-400C. There could be skin rashes, all of which will disappear in the next two to five days.

By the following week if not treated the signs and symptoms progresses. There could be abdominal distension and pain, constipation, or diarrhoea; the spleen and the liver could be enlarged, heartbeat may drop. There may be associated cough.

The third week come knocking without treatment, the fever will persist and individual will be more toxic, loss of appetite, severe abdominal pain, weight loss. There could also be diarrhoea. At this level, the sickness will be more complicated with bowel perforation.

 

If at the fourth week the carrier is still lucky to be alive, then there will be high-grade fever leading to a mental derangement, and so many complications will be coming up.

If at the end there is no means for the carrier to treat the disease then there is a means of other infections coming to the body. If the fever on the carrier is too deep for treatment then the carrier is tested for mental disorder and when this happens, it is called “typhoid psychosis”.

In carrying out the diagnosis of the disease, the doctor is said to critically examine the carrier so well and make sure he carries out thorough examination from the laboratory that must be correctly interpreted along with the detailed history of the illness from the beginning of the disease.

The major challenge of the treatment of this disease is self-medication and drug abuse, especially antibiotics; coupled with high level of fake drugs.

All this have led to high drug resistance to most drugs of choice for the treatment of this disease. However, newer drugs are replacing the old ones.

Typhoid fever can be prevented by breaking the transmission of the bacteria, avoiding street food, contaminated foods etc.

Meanwhile we should always wash our fruits and any other foods we want to eat before eating; wash hands thoroughly after using the toilet; avoid contaminated sachet waters. Typhoid vaccines are also available and the protection is 60% to 80%.