Is typhus contagious? how is it transmitted?

Typhus (typhus) or typhoid fever is a disease that can affect anyone, both children and adults. Typhus often occurs in slum environments with poor water sanitation. However, in what way is typhus the most contagious? Check out the following explanation.

Is typhus (typhus) contagious?

The simple answer is, yes, typhus is contagious. A person who is sick with typhus will continue to carry the bacteria that cause typhus, Salmonella typhi in his body. Therefore, people who have typhus will have a high risk of transmitting the same disease to other people, especially if they have not received typhus treatment.

Even so, the way typhus is transmitted from one person to another is not necessarily the same. In various ways, bacteria Salmonella typhi will enter your body, then enter the digestive tract and are absorbed into the bloodstream.

The bacteria present in the blood can then travel to the liver, spleen and bone marrow to multiply there and re-enter the bloodstream. This multiplying bacterial colony will then enter again into the digestive system.

The spread of typhus can occur at any time, but most often in the hot season. Hot weather is an ideal condition for bacteria Salmonella typhi breed.

When you get infectedSalmonella typhi,You may experience typhus symptoms. Symptoms include fever, dizziness, stomach pain, and nausea.

Typhoid symptoms are often underestimated until the disease gets worse. Conditions that are not treated promptly can lead to complications of typhus that can be life-threatening.

Here are the ways to transmit typhus that you need to know:

1. Food and drink

Typhus can be transmitted from the following unclean eating and drinking habits:

• Consumption of drinking water that is dirty, raw, and has been contaminated with bacteria Salmonella typhi can make you get typhus.
• Using water that is contaminated with bacteria Salmonella typhi for rinsing or washing food and cooking utensils and cutlery.
• Eat raw or undercooked foods, such as meat steak rare/medium rare, sushi and sashimi, seafood half-cooked, half-boiled eggs, or vegetable salad that is not clear how to process it.

Eating food or drink from contaminated sources Salmonella typhi it can also expose you to typhus. For example, raw water from contaminated rivers, raw meat, or contaminated shellfish.

2. Touching contaminated items

When you touch the toilet or other surface that has been contaminated by the feces of someone with typhus, then you do not wash your hands. You may unconsciously touch your mouth or put something in your mouth. As a result, bacteria Salmonella typhi come in and infect your body.

3. Contact with people who have been infected

Typhus can only be transmitted from human to human. The United States center for disease control and prevention, the CDC, mentions that bacteria Salmonella typhi cannot live in an animal's body.

People who have been declared cured of typhus may still harbor bacteria Salmonella typhi up to many years. These people are also called typhus careers. You can catch typhus as well as make contact with typhus careers.

For example, suppose you are healthy eating food or drinking drinks that have been touched by typhus patients. The bacteria that cause typhus can be transmitted through these activities, especially if he does not wash his hands after using the toilet and then processes the food.

4. Oral and anal sex

You can get typhus if you have sex with someone with typhus. The Department of Health report in Ohio, United States reported 8 cases of typhus transmission in gay men that occurred through sexual intercourse.

Doctors found similar risk factors in the eight people. They are known to have had sex with the same man.

The man is known to be a carrier (carrier) for typhus bacteria. Bacteria Salmonella typhi transmitted by this man through oral and anal sex.

Bacteria Salmonella typhi which is in the anal canal of the carrier can move to the mouth of his sex partner when the anal canal is stimulated with the tongue (rimming).

How to prevent typhus transmission?

The easiest way to avoid contracting typhus is to maintain cleanliness. The reason is, the bacteria that cause typhus often appear in an unhygienic environment. Here are ways you can do to prevent transmission of typhus:

1. Immunization

Typhoid vaccine can be done to help prevent this one disease. Typhoid vaccine should be given to children over two years of age.

This vaccine also requires a repeat every three years. For adults, you can also discuss with your doctor about the typhoid vaccine.

There are two types of vaccines for typhus, namely:

• Inject as a single dose at least one week before traveling.
• Given in the form of a drink as much as four capsules. Usually per capsule must be taken every day.

However, vaccines have an effectiveness of only 50 to 80 percent. The effectiveness of vaccines will also decrease over time. For that, you still need to be careful and try to prevent other typhoid fever.

2. Keep clean

Maintaining personal hygiene and living quarters are mandatory things you need to do as an effort to prevent typhus. Make it a habit to wash your hands with soap before eating. The reason is, typhus can be transmitted from anywhere, including the hands.

Also, wash your feet before you enter the house after traveling. This is because when it rains the roads tend to be muddy and there are lots of puddles. You don't want to let your dirty and germ-filled feet get into the house.

3. Do not snack carelessly

Typhus is spread through contaminated food and drink. Therefore, never snack carelessly.

Food that is not hygienic has the potential to catch flies. Flies are one of the animals that like to live in dirty places.

Flies can carry typhus-causing bacteria from the feces and urine of infected people. If these flies land on the food you buy, it is not impossible that afterward you will experience typhus.

Also, try not to add ice cubes to the drinks you buy. Ice cubes are not guaranteed cleanliness. It is possible that the ice that is produced in large quantities uses less clean water or is even contaminated with disease-causing germs.

4. Avoid contact with sick people

Bacteria are very easily spread from one person to another. For that, avoid too close contact with people who are sick. Kissing and using the same eating or bathing utensils as a sick person can increase the risk of contracting the disease.

5. Not preparing food for others until it is completely healed

Try not to cook or prepare food until the doctor determines that the bacteria that cause typhus will no longer be contagious. If you force it because you feel good, you may even pass the infection on to other people.

6. Maintain endurance

Disease will very easily infect people who have weak immunity. Keep your immune system strong by getting enough sleep, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, especially those containing vitamin C, and getting enough sunlight.