Typhoid Fever: Symptoms, Causes, Transmission & Treatment for most common disease in India

The-bacterium-Salmonella-enterica-serotype-Typhi-reason-for-Typhoid-Fever Photo: News-medical.net

What is Typhoid Fever?

Typhoid fever is a serious bacterial infection that easily spreads through contaminated water and food. Along with high fever, it can cause abdominal pains headache, and loss of appetite.

With treatment, most people make a full recovery. But untreated typhoid can lead to life-threatening complications, Healthline regarded.

Causes of Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever caused by the Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually causes a less severe illness. The bacteria aTyphoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever caused by the Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually causes a less severe illness. The bacteria are deposited in water or food by a human carrier and are then spread to other people in the area, Webmd noted.

Photo: Latimes.com

How is Typhoid Fever transmitted?

Fecal-oral transmission route

Most people in developed countries pick up typhoid bacteria while they're traveling. Once they have been infected, they can spread it to others through the fecal-oral route. This means that Salmonella typhi is passed in the feces and sometimes in the urine of infected people. If you eat food that has been handled by someone who has typhoid fever and who hasn't washed carefully after using the toilet, you can become infected.

In developing countries, where typhoid fever is established, most people become infected by drinking contaminated water. The bacteria may also spread through contaminated food and through direct contact with someone who is infected.

Typhoid carriers

Even after antibiotic treatment, a small number of people who recover from typhoid fever continue to harbor the bacteria. These people, known as chronic carriers, no longer have signs or symptoms of the disease themselves. However, they still shed the bacteria in their feces and are capable of infecting others, according to Mayoclinic.

Symptoms of Typhoid Fever

Chest congestion develops in many people, and abdominal pain and discomfort are common. The fever becomes constant. Improvement occurs in the third and fourth week in those without complications. About 10% of people have recurrent symptoms after feeling better for one to two weeks. Relapses are actually more common in individuals treated with antibiotics.

Some Reliable Statistics in India and all over the World

Typhoid-Fever-Statistics-in-India Photo: Ijmm.org

Worldwide-Typhoid-Fever-Statistics Photo: Researchgate.net

Treatments for Typhoid Fever

The only effective treatment for typhoid is antibiotics. The most commonly used are ciprofloxacin (for non-pregnant adults) and ceftriaxone. Other than antibiotics, it is important to rehydrate by drinking adequate water. In more severe cases, where the bowel has become perforated, surgery may be required.

Typhoid antibiotic resistance

As with a number of other bacterial diseases, there is currently concern about the growing resistance of antibiotics to S. typhi. This is impacting the choice of drugs available to treat typhoid. In recent years, for example, typhoid has become resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ampicillin. Ciprofloxacin, one of the key medications for typhoid, is also experiencing similar difficulties. Some studies have found Salmonella typhimurium resistance rates to be around 35%, reported by Medicalnewstoday.

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