Typhoid (typhoid fever): symptoms, causes, treatment, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is typhus (typhoid fever)?

Typhus (typhus) or typhoid fever is an acute disease caused by bacteria Salmonella typhi. These bacteria are usually found in contaminated water or food. In addition, these bacteria can also be transmitted from an infected person.

Typhoid fever, also called abdominal typhus, is a bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body and affect many organs. Without prompt and proper treatment, this disease can cause serious complications that are fatal.

People who are infected with typhus can transmit the bacteria through their feces or urine. If other people eat food or drink water that is contaminated with infected urine or feces, the disease can be contagious.

Often misunderstood, typhus is different from typhus. Typhus is caused by several types of bacteria Rickettsia typhi or R. prowazekii. Typhoid is carried by ectoparasites, such as lice, mites, and ticks, and then attacks humans.

How common is this condition?

Typhus is very common in developing countries, especially in children. Although it is more common in children, this condition can affect people of any age.

Typhus can usually be treated and prevented by reducing the risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of typhoid (typhoid fever)?

Typhoid symptoms that appear when you are infected Salmonella typhiis:

• Fever that increases every day until it reaches 39-40 ℃
• Headache
• Weak and tired
• Indigestion, such as diarrhea or constipation
• Stomach ache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting

There may also be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience various symptoms of typhus, as mentioned. In addition, you also need to get checked out immediately if you have a disease while visiting another country.

If the symptoms of typhus recur after returning home, consult your doctor again to find out the cause.

Cause

What causes typhus (typhoid fever)?

Salmonella typhi are bacteria that cause typhus that need to be watched out for. Usually these bacteria are spread by:

Feces and urine

Bacteria Salmonella typhi usually spread through contaminated food or water. But sometimes, these bacteria are also spread through direct contact with an infected person.

In developing countries, most of these problems arise from contaminated drinking water and poor sanitation.

People who have been infected

Some people who recover from typhus or typhoid fever can deposit these bacteria in their intestinal tract or gallbladder. These bacteria can even be stored for years.

This group of people is referred to as chronic carriers because they can infect other people even though they no longer have the signs and symptoms of typhus. You can catch typhus from this class of people.

Risk factors

What puts me at risk for typhus (typhoid fever)?

Typhoid (typhoid fever) is a serious disease that threatens the whole world, especially in developing countries. The reason is, reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 22 million cases of typhus and 200,000 deaths due to typhus worldwide.

Typhus is spread quickly through an unhygienic environment and habits. In addition, children are also more at risk of developing this one health problem.

If you live in a developed country where typhus or typhoid fever is rare, your risk is higher if:

• Work or travel to areas where typhus or typhoid fever is common.
• Work as a clinical microbiologist who comes into contact with bacteria Salmonella typhi.
• Have contact with people who are or have recently been infected with typhus or typhoid fever.
• Drink water that has been contaminated with feces that contain bacteria Salmonella typhi.

Complications

What are the complications of typhus?

Complications caused by typhus usually only occur in people who have not received the right antibiotics. Not only that, complications can also arise if you leave typhus for too long without treatment.

Generally, about 1 in 10 people will experience complications in the third week after infection. The most common complications of typhoid (typhus) if untreated are:

• Bleeding inside the body. Usually, internal bleeding that occurs as a result of typhus is not life-threatening. However, this can make you feel unwell
• Intestinal perforation, which is a condition when the intestine leaks due to a hole that has formed. As a result, the internal contents scattered and entered the stomach.

Apart from these two conditions, there are various other complications that may arise, namely:

• Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
• Inflammation of the lining of the heart and valves (endocarditis)
• Pneumonia
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Kidney or bladder infection
• Infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
• Psychiatric problems such as delirium, hallucinations, and paranoid psychosis

However, with a variety of proper treatments, you will avoid complications that may arise.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is typhus diagnosed?

To diagnose typhus, the doctor will do several checks such as:

1. Medical and travel history

Before examining the body further, the doctor will find out the cause of typhoid through your symptoms, medical history, and your travels. Usually this information is important material for doctors to determine whether you have typhus or not.

2. Blood tests and tissue cultures

Your doctor may ask you to do blood tests, such as the Widal test or the TUBEX test. In addition, to ensure the presence of these bacteria in the body, the doctor will take a sample of feces, urine, or bone marrow.

These various samples will later be placed on special media that can encourage bacterial growth.

Later, the culture will be examined under a microscope to determine the presence of bacteria that cause typhus. Generally, a sample that passes through the bone marrow is the most sensitive test for Salmonella typhi.

How to treat typhus (typhoid fever)?

Antibiotics are the single most effective treatment for typhoid or typhoid fever. Typhus treatment can be done at home or in the hospital, depending on the severity of the disease.

Doctors usually recommend drugs to treat the following typhus:

1. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

In the United States, doctors often prescribe ciprofloxacin for adults who are not pregnant. In addition, other similar drugs ofloxacin will also be prescribed. Unfortunately, lots of bacteria Salmonella typhi which is now no longer effective against this one antibiotic. Especially in typhoid fever bacteria in Southeast Asia.

2. Azithromycin (Zithromax)

Azithromycin is usually used when a person cannot use ciprofloxacin. In addition, this type of antibiotic is also often used when bacteria are resistant to ciprofloxacin.

3. Ceftriaxone

Injectable antibiotics such as ceftriaxone can be prescribed if the disease is more serious. In addition, injectable antibiotics are also usually prescribed for those who do not take ciprofloxacin, such as children.

Just like other types of medicines, this medicine can also cause side effects. In fact, if used long-term, these bacteria can be resistant to antibiotics.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat typhoid fever?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help treat typhus, namely:

1. Drink lots of water

Drinking water when you have typhus helps prevent dehydration caused by fever and prolonged diarrhea. If you are severely dehydrated, your doctor will give you fluids through a vein (IV).

2. Complete rest

In order to quickly recover from typhus, you need a lot of rest, maybe even complete rest. Try not to do various strenuous activities so that your body can be fit and avoid complications of typhus.

3. Eat foods that are easy to digest

When typhus, your intestines are disturbed. That is why, it is better for you to eat foods that are recommended for typhus sufferers, such as eating foods that are easy to digest (porridge and other soft foods).

That way, the work of the intestines becomes lighter. Eating foods that are easily digested also make the nutrients in the food more quickly absorbed by the body.

Prevention

What can I do to prevent typhus?

The best way to prevent typhus is to maintain cleanliness and improve sanitation. In addition, you can do the following ways:

• Vaccinations, recommended by the Indonesian government but not required. This vaccine can be given orally or by injection in children over two years of age.
• Washing hands with soap and water, especially when you are preparing food or after going to the bathroom.
• Avoid raw foods because the bacteria that cause typhus may remain in these products.
• Don't snack carelessly because you do not know whether the merchant applies good hygiene when preparing food that is sold.
• Avoid contact with sick people because bacteria are very easily spread from one person to another.

Prevent typhus from spreading to other people

If you are recovering from typhus, you can apply the steps below to agar bacteria Salmonella typhi not spread to other people.

• Take the medicine according to the doctor's recommendation, until it's complete
• Wash your hands frequently
• Do not prepare food for someone else until it is declared completely free of Salmonella typhi

Typhus is a disease that you can prevent if you know what causes it to the symptoms. Call your doctor right away if you experience symptoms or conditions that worry you and those around you.