What you need to know about typhoid

What is typhoid?

1. Symptoms

2. Treatment

3. Causes

4. Prevention

Typhoid is a bacterial infection that can lead to a high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It can be fatal. It is caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi.

The infection is often passed on through contaminated food and drinking water, and it is more prevalent in places where handwashing is less frequent. It can also be passed on by carriers who do not know they carry the bacteria.

If typhoid is caught early, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics; if it is not treated it can be fetal

The only treatment for typhoid is antibiotics

What is typhoid?

Typhoid is an infection caused by Salmonella typhimurium bacteria that is spread from human to human.

Typhoid is an infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhi).

The bacterium lives in the intestines and bloodstream of humans. It spreads between individuals by direct contact with the feces of an infected person.

Typhoid fever is a disease that dates back to before ancient Greece and still causes as many as 200,000 deaths worldwide each year, roughly the population of Birmingham, Ala. For millennia, the cause of typhoid fever has remained a mystery.

was Karl Joseph Eberth, doctor and student of Rudolf Virchow, who in 1879 discovered the bacillus in the abdominal lymph nodes and the spleen. He had published his observations in 1880 and 1881. His discovery was then verified and confirmed by German and English bacteriologists, including Robert Koch [2].

Typhoid is a bacterial infection that can lead to a high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It can be fatal. It is caused by the bacteria called Salmonella typhi.

Causes

The infection is often passed on through contaminated food and drinking water, and it is more prevalent in places where handwashing is less frequent.

And the gastrointestinal tract is more severely affected aincluding liver, spleen, and muscles. Through bloodstream, bacteria can also reach gallbladder, lungs, and kidneys.

And this illness normally depends on how many bacteria you have swallowed. It is usually between seven and fourteen days, but can be as short as three days, or as long as 30 days. Untreated, the illness usually lasts for three to four weeks, but may be longer in a small number of cases. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and life-threatening.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from mild to severe and life-threatening.

Symptoms of typhoid fever include headaches, stomach pain, and high fever. On rare occasions, these infections can affect the brain resulting in serious neurological symptoms such as slurred speech and lack of muscle control.

Treatment

On the typhoid diet, you should opt for foods lower in fiber, such as cooked vegetables, ripe fruits, and refined grains. It's also important to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.

Digestive aids like Lemon Phudina Paani and Minty Honey Lemon Drink are good options to soothe the stomach. Milk-based drinks can be taken if milk is tolerated well as these will add a lot of protein to your diet.

Dairy products such as yogurt, milk, and eggs ensure adequate protein in the body, and so should be included in the typhoid recovery diet plan. These foods are easier to digest as compared to meat.

Prevention

Avoid raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables that may have been washed with contaminated water, especially lettuce and fruits like berries that can't be peeled. Bananas, avocados, and oranges make better choices, but be sure you peel them yourself.

Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics which kill the Salmonella bacteria. Prior to the use of antibiotics, the fatality rate was 20%. Death occurred from overwhelming infection, pneumonia, intestinal bleeding, or intestinal perforation. With antibiotics and supportive care, mortality has been reduced to 1%-2%.

It is also advisable to eat foods which are high in carbohydrates because it helps provide the necessary energy to the body. Because energy is lost during typhoid fever, semi-solid food is a better option for recovering people who are suffering from typhoid or the Salmonella bacteria as they are easier to digest. Foods like porridge, fruit custards, poached eggs, baked potato, honey, and boiled rice must be consumed.

Important to take small frequent meals, even if there is no appetite. There is no restriction on food, but food consumed should include essential nutrients. This can be provided by fresh green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and healthy meat and milk products. Avoid alcohol and sodas.

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