Typhoid Fever: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi bacteria. It is usually transmitted to humans through contaminated food or water.

The symptoms of typhoid fever are high fever, headache, stomach pain, loss of appetite, and constipation or diarrhea. Complications may include intestinal perforation, intestinal bleeding, confusion, seizure and coma.

The disease has been eliminated in most developed countries through vaccination programs and improved sanitation.

Signs and symptoms

Typhoid fever is an acute, febrile, systemic illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi.

Symptoms of typhoid fever include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle pains and spasms
  • Severe stomach pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • A rose pink rash on the chest and abdomen

Typhoid fever is caused by a bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Typhoid fever can cause high fevers, headaches and stomach pains. The symptoms can last from 1 week to 3 months or more depending on the person’s health status, age and other factors.

People at risk of getting typhoid fever are those who travel to, live in, or work in areas where typhoid fever is common. It can also be contracted by eating or drinking from contaminated sources such as undercooked food, untreated water, milk from infected cows and raw vegetables.

The incubation period of typhoid fever is generally between one to three weeks. A person is infectious and can spread the disease to others during this time.

Causes

Typhoid fever is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. Typhoid fever is a potentially fatal illness that can be prevented by vaccination and good hygiene practices.

The symptoms of typhoid fever usually start 1-3 weeks after exposure to the bacteria. The most common symptoms are fever, diarrhea, headache, stomach pain, and loss of appetite.

Less common symptoms include:

joint pain, pink eye, cough, rash on the body or face (especially in children), confusion or delirium (in severe cases).

Diagnosis

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that can make you very sick. There are tests to diagnose typhoid fever, and they are often done in a lab.

There are tests that are used to diagnose typhoid fever including blood tests and stool samples in a lab. The blood test looks for antibodies against Salmonella typhi bacteria in your blood.

Treatment

The treatment for typhoid fever is antibiotics. The antibiotics that are used for typhoid fever are erythromycin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin.

Typhoid fever is a bacterial disease which can be cured with the right treatment.

Diagnosis Vs Prognosis

A diagnosis of typhoid fever is made by isolating the bacterium Salmonella typhi from a blood, bone marrow, or other body fluid sample.

Typhoid fever is an acute febrile illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. The disease is transmitted via contaminated food and water or person-to-person contact with an infected individual.

The prognosis for typhoid fever varies depending on age and immune status of the patient, as well as other factors such as complications from the infection, antibiotic use, and whether the patient has been vaccinated against the disease.

Complications

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that causes a high fever and body aches. The complications of typhoid fever are not common, but they do happen. People with typhoid fever who have kidney or gallbladder disease are more likely to have complications.

Complications of typhoid fever include intestinal perforation, which is when the intestine tears and the contents leak into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to infections in the abdominal cavity and sepsis, which is when bacteria enter the bloodstream from an infected area of tissue. Other complications include inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) and inflammation of the brain (meningitis).

Precautions:

Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and after using the toilet – Drink only boiled or treated water – Try to avoid raw vegetables or fruit – Avoid street foods and undercooked meat – If you have been travelling in an area where typhosis is common, consult your doctor about vaccinations.

Summary

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi. Symptoms of typhoid fever include a high fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. Typhoid fever can cause death if not treated with antibiotics.

Typhoid fever is most common in developing countries where there is poor sanitation and less access to clean water. It can also be spread through food or drinks that have been contaminated by someone who has the disease.