What are the Signs and Symptoms of Typhoid
Typhoid fever is caused by bacteria named Salmonella typhi bacteria. It is a very serious threat especially to children. The virus spreads through contaminated food and water. It also spreads through close contact with someone who’s infected. Signs and symptoms include high fever, headache, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea. The virus can be treated by antibiotic treatment using vaccines.
Symptoms of Typhoid
The symptoms might not show up in the beginning. They often occur after one to three weeks of being exposed to the virus. Early symptoms include headache, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, fever that starts from low to high and might rise upto 104.7 F, rash, weakness and fatigue, muscle pain, sweating, dry cough, swollen abdomen, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Later symptoms occur if you don’t receive treatment. You might become delirious, lie motionless and exhausted with half eye closed known as the typhoid state. Real life threatening complications might occur if not taken care of.
Treatment of Typhoid
Most commonly used antibiotics are ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. It is very important to be hydrated by drinking lots of water.In some cases, when bowel movements become perforated then surgery may be required.
Prevention of Typhoid
One can prevent typhoid by drinking and using clean water, vaccination against the typhoid fever, oral prevention, using boiled water for drinking, avoiding eating street food, not eating food that has already been consumed by someone else, not having ice in water, not eating raw fruits with the peels, removing the peel and then consuming them. Whenever travelling to places like Africa, South America, Asia and India in particular, then do get vaccinated before travelling. Get an inactivated vaccine, preferably 2 weeks before the travel.
Featured Image Credit: Medi Connect India
Team at World Infi