What is typhoid fever?
Typhoid fever is an acute infectious illness associated with fever that is most often caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually leads to a less severe illness. The bacteria are deposited through fecal contamination in water or food by a human carrier and are then spread to other people in the area. Typhoid fever is rare in industrial countries but continues to be a significant public health issue in developing countries.
How is typhoid contacted?
Typhoid fever is contracted by the ingestion of the bacteria in contaminated food or water. Patients with acute illness can contaminate the surrounding water supply through stool, which contains a high concentration of the bacteria. Contamination of the water supply can, in turn, taint the food supply. About 3%-5% of patients become carriers of the bacteria after the acute illness.The bacteria can survive for weeks in water or dried sewage. These chronic carriers may have no symptoms and can be the source of new outbreaks of typhoid fever for many years.
What causes typhoid fever?
After the ingestion of contaminated food or water, the Salmonella bacteria invade the small intestine and enter the bloodstream temporarily. The bacteria are carried by white blood cells to the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The bacteria then multiply in the cells of these organs and reenter the bloodstream. Patients develop symptoms, including fever, when the organism reenters the bloodstream. Bacteria invade the gallbladder, biliary system, and the lymphatic tissue of the bowel. Here, they multiply in high numbers. The bacteria pass into the intestinal tract and can be identified for diagnosis in cultures from the stool tested in the laboratory. Stool cultures are sensitive in the early and late stages of the disease but often must be supplemented with blood cultures to make the definite diagnosis.
How is typhoid fever diagnosed?
The laboratory tests for confirming typhoid fever are bone marrow, blood and stool culture (in order of reliability). Unfortunately these tests - which imply taking a sample of bone marrow, blood or stool and culture it in the laboratory for several days - are invasive, expensive, not readily available in many hospitals, and the result can take several days.
Simple blood tests which detect antibodies to S. typhi -the (in)famous Widal - are not very useful because they can become positive after several days of the disease, they can be negative even if you have the disease and they are often positive even if you do not have the disease!
This is because it can be positive even with other infections or previous infection and the result is highly variable among different laboratories, so only comparing samples taken at 7-14 days interval there is reasonable certainty of the diagnosis.
Myths about typhoid
Myth: You can tell if someone's infected.
Fact: Someone can look healthy and still be infected with the disease.
Myth: You no longer have the disease when you start to feel better.
Fact: You may still be infected even if you start to feel better.
Myth: I'm immune to the disease because I've had a typhoid vaccination.
Fact: The jab won't give you 100% immunity, so it's important to stay vigilant.
What are the signs and symptoms of typhoid fever?
The incubation period is usually one to two weeks, and the duration of the illness is about four to six weeks.The patient experiences:
•poor appetite
•abdominal pain
•headaches
•generalized aches and pains
•high fever often up to (39-40)°C
•lethargy (usually only if untreated)
•intestinal bleeding or perforation (after two to three weeks of the disease)
•diarrhea
•constipation.
People with typhoid fever usually have a sustained fever as high as 39°C-40°C.Chest congestion develops in many patients, and abdominal pain and discomfort are common.The fever becomes constant. Improvement occurs in the third and fourth week in those without complications.
Is it possible to prevent typhoid fever?
• Wash your hands properly with soap and water. This is particularly important after using the toilet and for anyone who's preparing food.
• Boil drinking water. It needs to be boiled for at least 1 minute to kill the bacteria.
• Cook with boiling water and wash fruit and vegetables with cooled, boiled water.
Sanitation and hygiene are important to prevent typhoid. Typhoid does not affect animals other than humans. Typhoid can only spread in environments where human feces are able to come into contact with food or drinking water. Careful food preparation and washing of hands are crucial to prevent typhoid. Industrialization, and in particular, the invention of the automobile, contributed greatly to the elimination of typhoid fever, as it eliminated the public health hazards associated with having horse manure in the public street which led to large number of flies.
To help decrease rates of typhoid fever in developing nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the use of a vaccination program starting in 1999. Vaccinations have proven to be a great way at controlling outbreaks in high incidence areas. Just as important, it is also very cost-effective. Vaccination prices are normally low Because the price is low.Poverty-stricken communities are more willing to take advantage of the vaccinations. Although,vaccination programs for typhoid have proven to be effective, they alone cannot eliminate typhoid fever. Combining the use of vaccines along with increasing public health efforts is the only proven way to control this disease.
What is the treatment for typhoid fever, and what is the prognosis?
Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics that kill the Salmonella bacteria. Prior to the use of antibiotics, the fatality rate was 20%. Death occurred from overwhelming infection, pneumonia, intestinal bleeding, or intestinal perforation. With antibiotics and supportive care, mortality has been reduced to 1%-2%. With appropriate antibiotic therapy, there is usually improvement within one to two days and recovery within seven to 10 days.
Conclusion.
Update your immunization, follow routine hygiene precautions and use only trusted healthcare providers.If you suspect typhoid fever after for a prolonged period, or if symptoms persist, ask and consult your doctor for more information.
Typhoid fever is an acute infectious illness associated with fever that is most often caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually leads to a less severe illness. The bacteria are deposited through fecal contamination in water or food by a human carrier and are then spread to other people in the area. Typhoid fever is rare in industrial countries but continues to be a significant public health issue in developing countries.
How is typhoid contacted?
Typhoid fever is contracted by the ingestion of the bacteria in contaminated food or water. Patients with acute illness can contaminate the surrounding water supply through stool, which contains a high concentration of the bacteria. Contamination of the water supply can, in turn, taint the food supply. About 3%-5% of patients become carriers of the bacteria after the acute illness.The bacteria can survive for weeks in water or dried sewage. These chronic carriers may have no symptoms and can be the source of new outbreaks of typhoid fever for many years.
What causes typhoid fever?
After the ingestion of contaminated food or water, the Salmonella bacteria invade the small intestine and enter the bloodstream temporarily. The bacteria are carried by white blood cells to the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The bacteria then multiply in the cells of these organs and reenter the bloodstream. Patients develop symptoms, including fever, when the organism reenters the bloodstream. Bacteria invade the gallbladder, biliary system, and the lymphatic tissue of the bowel. Here, they multiply in high numbers. The bacteria pass into the intestinal tract and can be identified for diagnosis in cultures from the stool tested in the laboratory. Stool cultures are sensitive in the early and late stages of the disease but often must be supplemented with blood cultures to make the definite diagnosis.
How is typhoid fever diagnosed?
The laboratory tests for confirming typhoid fever are bone marrow, blood and stool culture (in order of reliability). Unfortunately these tests - which imply taking a sample of bone marrow, blood or stool and culture it in the laboratory for several days - are invasive, expensive, not readily available in many hospitals, and the result can take several days.
Simple blood tests which detect antibodies to S. typhi -the (in)famous Widal - are not very useful because they can become positive after several days of the disease, they can be negative even if you have the disease and they are often positive even if you do not have the disease!
This is because it can be positive even with other infections or previous infection and the result is highly variable among different laboratories, so only comparing samples taken at 7-14 days interval there is reasonable certainty of the diagnosis.
Myths about typhoid
Myth: You can tell if someone's infected.
Fact: Someone can look healthy and still be infected with the disease.
Myth: You no longer have the disease when you start to feel better.
Fact: You may still be infected even if you start to feel better.
Myth: I'm immune to the disease because I've had a typhoid vaccination.
Fact: The jab won't give you 100% immunity, so it's important to stay vigilant.
What are the signs and symptoms of typhoid fever?
The incubation period is usually one to two weeks, and the duration of the illness is about four to six weeks.The patient experiences:
•poor appetite
•abdominal pain
•headaches
•generalized aches and pains
•high fever often up to (39-40)°C
•lethargy (usually only if untreated)
•intestinal bleeding or perforation (after two to three weeks of the disease)
•diarrhea
•constipation.
People with typhoid fever usually have a sustained fever as high as 39°C-40°C.Chest congestion develops in many patients, and abdominal pain and discomfort are common.The fever becomes constant. Improvement occurs in the third and fourth week in those without complications.
Is it possible to prevent typhoid fever?
• Wash your hands properly with soap and water. This is particularly important after using the toilet and for anyone who's preparing food.
• Boil drinking water. It needs to be boiled for at least 1 minute to kill the bacteria.
• Cook with boiling water and wash fruit and vegetables with cooled, boiled water.
Sanitation and hygiene are important to prevent typhoid. Typhoid does not affect animals other than humans. Typhoid can only spread in environments where human feces are able to come into contact with food or drinking water. Careful food preparation and washing of hands are crucial to prevent typhoid. Industrialization, and in particular, the invention of the automobile, contributed greatly to the elimination of typhoid fever, as it eliminated the public health hazards associated with having horse manure in the public street which led to large number of flies.
To help decrease rates of typhoid fever in developing nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the use of a vaccination program starting in 1999. Vaccinations have proven to be a great way at controlling outbreaks in high incidence areas. Just as important, it is also very cost-effective. Vaccination prices are normally low Because the price is low.Poverty-stricken communities are more willing to take advantage of the vaccinations. Although,vaccination programs for typhoid have proven to be effective, they alone cannot eliminate typhoid fever. Combining the use of vaccines along with increasing public health efforts is the only proven way to control this disease.
What is the treatment for typhoid fever, and what is the prognosis?
Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics that kill the Salmonella bacteria. Prior to the use of antibiotics, the fatality rate was 20%. Death occurred from overwhelming infection, pneumonia, intestinal bleeding, or intestinal perforation. With antibiotics and supportive care, mortality has been reduced to 1%-2%. With appropriate antibiotic therapy, there is usually improvement within one to two days and recovery within seven to 10 days.
Conclusion.
Update your immunization, follow routine hygiene precautions and use only trusted healthcare providers.If you suspect typhoid fever after for a prolonged period, or if symptoms persist, ask and consult your doctor for more information.