Symptoms and Treatment of Typhoid

Typhoid is an infection caused by a bacterium and can lead to conditions like vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever. In fact, it can even be fatal on occasions. The bacteria that causes typhoid is known as Salmonella typhi. The bacterium usually passes on through contaminated drinking water or food. Typhoid is more common in places where people wash their hands less frequently than where they don't. The disease can also be transmitted by unaware-carriers who do not realize that they are carrying the bacteria. When typhoid is detected early, treatment is possible with antibiotics. However, when not treated in time, the disease as mentioned before can be fatal.

Interesting facts related to typhoid

Check out some of the interesting facts related to typhoid:

· If the condition remains untreated for long, it can be fatal in up to 1/4 ^th of the cases.

· It is a bacterial infection that is quite common in nations having low incomes.

· Some common symptoms of typhoid are gastrointestinal problems and high fever.

· There are some people who are the carriers of the bacteria while not developing symptoms.

• Antibiotics are the only cure for typhoid.

Causes of typhoid

A bacterium called S-typhi cause typhoid as mentioned earlier. It then spreads through drinking water, drinks, and food, which are already contaminated. The disease can also spread if you use contaminated water to wash vegetables and fruits. The bacterium resides in the bloodstream and intestines of the affected person. It then spreads from one individual to the next by coming into direct contact with an infected person. Animals are not the carriers of this disease, and hence transmission is usually between human beings. When treatment is done at an early stage, fewer than four out of one hundred cases are fatal. The bacterium makes its entry through the mouth. It spends around one to three weeks in the affected person's intestine. After that, it attacks the wall of the intestine and enters the bloodstream.

Some people carry typhoid asymptomatically. It signifies that although the bacterium is inside their body, they do not suffer from any ill effects. On the other hand, some people continue to have the bacteria even after they do not have the symptoms. At times, typhoid can pop up once again.

Symptoms of typhoid

The symptoms of typhoid are visible between 6 days to a month after being exposed to the bacteria. A couple of key symptoms of the disease are an appearance of rashes and high fever. Fever in typhoid is very high, slowly going up over many days and can even reach about 105 degrees Fahrenheit. However, all patients may not have rashes which are rose-colored spots especially on the abdomen and the neck.

Some other critical symptoms of typhoid are as follows:

• Headaches
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness
• Constipation

· Although rare but symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion cannot be ruled out entirely.

Treatment for typhoid

Antibiotics are the only known effective treatment when a person suffers from typhoid. Some common antibiotics prescribed by physicians include ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin. The latter is meant for non-pregnant women.

Apart from antibiotics, the patient should rehydrate their bodies by drinking water frequently. When the cases are more severe, i.e., when the bowel is perforated, the physician may even suggest for a surgery.

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