5 Most Common Symptoms of Typhoid and Their Treatment

Overview

Salmonella bacteria are the root cause of typhoid fever, which is often known as enteric fever. In areas where few people have the germs, typhoid fever is uncommon. Additionally, it is unusual when human waste disposal is controlled and water is treated to remove bacteria. The United States is one location where typhoid fever is uncommon. Africa and South Asia are the regions with the most significant number of outbreaks or frequent outbreaks. In areas where it is more prevalent, it poses a significant hazard to health, particularly for youngsters.

The majority of typhoid fever sufferers experience improvement within a week after beginning antibiotic treatment. However, there is a slight possibility of dying from extreme symptoms of typhoid without treatment. Typhoid vaccines can offer some level of protection. However, they are not always effective in preventing illnesses brought on by different salmonella strains. Typhoid fever risk can be reduced with the use of vaccinations.

Signs and Symptoms of Typhoid

The first signs of an infection are most likely to appear 1 to 3 weeks following bacterial exposure.

Early Ailment

Mild typhoid symptoms consist of -

1. A low-grade fever that begins slowly and rises over the day, possibly reaching 104 ° F (40 ° C).
2. Chills.
3. Headache.
4. Weakness and exhaustion
5. Muscle pain.
6. Stomach ache.
7. Constipation and diarrhoea.
8. Rash.
9. People may also experience sweating, cough and loss of appetite.

Later Ailment

The sickness may result in issues with the intestines a few days after symptoms first appear. Persons might have - 

1. Stomach ache.
2. Extremely enlarged stomach.
3. Sepsis is a disease brought on by gut bacteria that spreads throughout the body.

In extreme situations, people may -

1. Become perplexed.
2. Be unable to focus on anything around them.
3. Not be capable of reacting to their surroundings.

These problems pose a serious risk to life. Some people may experience symptoms again up to several weeks after the fever has subsided.

Unusual Signs and Symptoms of Typhoid

Among the symptoms of atypical typhoid fever are the following -

• Isolated arthralgia(pain or stiffness in the joints)
• Acute lobar pneumonia (pneumonia affecting the lobes of the lungs)
• Severe jaundice
• An isolated headache of great intensity suggests meningitis.
• Urinary symptoms

Some patients mostly from Africa and India have shown only neurological symptoms, such as:

• Delirium.
• In extremely rare cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Symptoms of Parkinson's disease 

Other unusual problems include:

• Meningitis
• Osteomyelitis (infection in the bones)
• Orchitis (swelling in either or both testicles)
• Abscesses
• Pancreatitis

Risk Factors and Causes of Typhoid

Salmonella typhi bacteria are the culprit behind typhoid (S. typhi). S. typhi spreads mostly through the oral-faecal route, typically through contaminated food or water. Additionally, it can spread through close contact with someone who is infected with typhoid.

Salmonella typhi is occasionally discovered in an infected person's urine. Because the virus can spread to someone who eats food touched by an infected person, it is crucial to wash your hands properly after urinating. 

Contaminated human waste can contaminate the water supply in places with poor sanitation.

Typhoid can spread through drinking infected water or eating food that has been cleaned in polluted water.

There are still some other ways to contract typhoid fever -

• Trying to touch your mouth without completely washing your hands after using a public bathroom that has Salmonella Typhi germs.
• Having anal or oral sex with someone who is infected with or carrying the S. typhi bacteria.
• Eating seafood grown in water contaminated by an infected person's urine or excreta.
• Consuming contaminated milk products.

Typhoid can also disseminate through the bloodstream. As S. typhi bacteria go from the digestive system to the blood circulation, they cause bacteremia and spread the illness to distant organs such as -

• Pneumonia i.e. spread through the lungs.
• Glomerulonephritis i.e. spread through the kidneys.
• Infectious arthritis i.e. spread through the joints.
• Osteomyelitis i.e. spread through the bones.
• Endocarditis i.e. spread through the heart.
• Spread through the liver, spleen and gallbladder.
• Meningitis i.e. spread through the surrounding tissues of the brain.

The main causes of these illnesses are caused by undertreated or patients who delay treatment.

Diagnosis of Typhoid

Typhoid fever is often diagnosed by a clinician based on a patient's unique medical history to distinguish it from paratyphoid, an infection caused by Salmonella enterica. While the symptoms of this virus are similar to those of typhoid, it is not as dangerous. 

A doctor will ask you if you have travelled to or lived in areas where the sickness is common as well as where occurrences have been documented. They also need to know your history of vaccinations, area of residence, where you live and whether you have used any medicines recently. They may also inquire as to whether you have recently consumed any food or water from outside or an untrusted source.

Typhoid Fever Treatment

Typhoid can only be effectively treated with antibiotics. Doctors most usually recommend Cipro (ciprofloxacin) to individuals who are not pregnant. Besides these, a doctor could also recommend -

• Ampicillin (Ampi, Omnipen, Penglobe and Principen).
• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim).
• Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin).

Using chloramphenicol while pregnant is not advised. Patients with typhoid should drink enough water to replenish their fluids. In more severe cases where the bowel has been perforated, a person may need surgery.

However, there is concern about the escalating antibiotic resistance of S. typhi, as there is, with a variety of other bacterial diseases.

Conclusion

If you suspect you may have typhoid fever, seek medical attention right away. Know who to contact for a provider list if you become ill while travelling in a foreign nation. This could be the nearest embassy or consulate for some people.

Consider visiting a healthcare professional who specializes in infectious diseases or international travel medicine if you experience potential symptoms of typhoid after returning home. By doing this, typhoid fever may be identified and treated more promptly.