Typhoid fever is a one of the life threatening disease in the developing countries, especially for children. It is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, a less potent form is caused by Salmonella paratyphi. It is a contagious disease that spreads by oro-feacal route, i.e. through contaminated food and water, and through fomites of the infected patient.
After being ingested through the oral route, these bacteria travel through the bloodstream to gall bladder, biliary system and lymphatic system of intestines; where they multiply in great numbers. The symptoms gradually appear within 2-3weeks post-exposure. The symptoms include: Fever gradually reaches as high as 104degree Fahrenheit, headaches, generalized muscle aches or weaknesses, poor appetite, lethargy and diarrhea.
The microbes in intestines form ulcers which may bleed, through these breaks the infection may seep into blood stream causing sepsis, pneumonia, inflammations of cardiac muscles, heart valves, pancreas or meninges. These are the dreaded complications.
If left untreated, illness may proceed to such a state wherein the person becomes delirious and may lie motionless and with half closed eyes. A small fraction of the infected people continue to harbor the microbes in their intestines or gallbladder for long time, thought they do not exhibit clinical feature but are capable of spreading the disease.
The incidence is high in areas with poor sanitation. These are best prevented by cleanliness and vaccines. However, the traditional medical treatment is with chloramphenicol, as of now antibiotics depending on culture sensitivity are been prescribed.
-Koya Satyasri
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