What is typhoid fever, transmission and prevention?

Typhoid fever is an infectious disease that can be transmitted through the consumption of water and food contaminated with Salmonella typhi, which is the etiological agent of typhoid fever, causing symptoms such as high fever, lack of appetite, enlarged spleen and red spots on the skin.Skin..

Typhoid fever can be treated with antibiotics, rest and water intake to hydrate the patient.The typhoid vaccine is the best way to prevent the disease and is indicated for people who go to areas where the disease is common.

  • Typhoid fever is linked to low socioeconomic levels.
  • Mainly with poor hygiene and personal and environmental hygiene conditions.
  • And typhoid fever in Brazil is more common in states where conditions are most precarious.

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are similar diseases with the same symptoms and treatment, however, paratyphoid fever is caused by Salmonella paratyphi A, B or C bacteria and is generally less severe.Typhoid fever and typhus are different diseases because typhus is an infectious disease caused by Rickettsia bacteria, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected insect, such as lice, fleas or ticks, or by contamination by the faeces of an infected insect.Learn more about typhus.

The images show one of the typical symptoms of typhoid fever, red spots on the shoulder, chest and abdomen.

Symptoms of typhoid fever include

Symptoms of typhoid fever may, in some cases, resemble respiratory tract infections and meningitis.The incubation period for the disease is 1 to 3 weeks and the person may have typhoid fever several times during their lifetime.

Diagnosis of typhoid fever can be made by blood and stool tests.

The typhoid fever vaccine is the most effective option for preventing typhoid fever and is indicated for people traveling to areas where the disease is common.

Knowing that the vaccine does not fully protect the individual against typhoid fever, it is important to take other preventive measures, such as before drinking, boiling or filtering water, using mineral water even to brush their teeth, performing personal hygiene care on a daily basis., avoid going to places where hygiene conditions are bad, wash your hands before preparing food and after going to the bathroom and having Base sanitary facilities.

The transmission of typhoid fever is usually as follows

Vegetables, fruits and vegetables washed with contaminated water can also cause disease, and even foods that have already been frozen are not safe because low temperature does not eliminate salmonella.

See also how to wash vegetables well

Treatment of typhoid fever can usually be done at home with the administration of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, such as chloramphenicol, in addition to rest, a low-fat, low-fat diet, and a water intake that allows the patient to stay hydrated.In the most severe cases, it may be necessary for the individual to be hospitalized to be monitored and receive serum and antibiotics in the vein.

It is advisable to drink plenty of filtered water or tea to stay hydrated, you should avoid foods high in fats and sugars, to lower the fever you can take several baths throughout the day, in addition to taking acetaminophen or dipirona at recommended times.Laxatives should not be taken to remove the intestine or to eat foods that retain the intestine in case of diarrhea.

After the fifth day, the individual may no longer show symptoms, but may still contain bacteria in the body. The individual can remain with the bacteria for up to 4 months, which occurs in more than 1/4 of the patients, or for more than more than a year, a rarer situation, so it is essential to use the bathroom correctly and keep hands always clean.

When left untreated, typhoid fever can cause serious complications for the individual, such as bleeding, perforation of the intestine, widespread infection, coma and even death.

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