Signs and Symptoms of Typhoid

Signs and Symptoms of Typhoid

Typhoid is an acute symptomatic bacterial infection associated with fever caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. This type of disease (Paratyphoid) may also be caused by a bacterium which is also related to Salmonella typhiknown as Salmonella paratyphi. Typhoid parasite usually transmitted by the ingestion of food or water which is contaminated by the typhoid causing parasite through the urine or faeces of infected persons. The stools of the persons who are affected by this disease contain a large amount of bacteria. The bacteria can survive in water as well as dried sewage for more than one week. This parasite usually grows in a faster rate in the intestine and blood of the patient.  Poor sanitation and poor hygienemay also be a great cause for the outcome of this disease. This disease can simply be detected by the blood test as well as bone marrow testing too. Now there is typhoid vaccine present in the market which can prevent this disease almost about 70% cases till 7 years from the date of being vaccinated. Clean drinking water as well as better sanitation and hand washing frequently may reduce the chance for being affected by this disease. This disease may also be treated with antibiotics like azithromycin, fluoroquinolones or third generation cephalosporins which can give the patient complete relief from this disease.

                     The symptoms of this disease usually develop 1-3 weeks after the exposure of the patient to the infective bacteria though the symptoms may be mild to severe lasts for almost one week. The physiological abnormalities which are most reported and treat as the common symptoms of this disease are discussed in the following:

 

• ·         High Fever: It is the most important symptom of this disease where the body temperature of the affected person varies from 100°F to 104°F. But no shivering occurred at all at the time of infection. This fever can be reduced only by intake of paracetamol tablets.
• ·         Headache & malaise: Frequent headache mild to severe along with the presence of malaise.
• ·         Epistaxis: This also can be easily found symptom of this disease which is usually followed the presence of blood in the nose.
• ·         A decrease found in the number of circulating white blood cells which is medically known as leukopenia followed by eosionopenia & lymphocytosis. 
• ·         Rose spots appear on the lower chest as well as on the abdomen too in 33% of persons who are affected by this parasite.
• ·         The condition of the patient becomes serious due to Intestinal haemorrhage resulting from the bleeding in congested Peyer's patches. But this symptom is not fatal.
• ·         Appearance of respiratory disease such as pneumonia and acute bronchitis may also be a symptom for this disease but appearance of this symptom varies from person to person.
• ·         The no of platelets in bloods decreased slowly which arise the risk of bleeding in the late phase.
• ·         Metastatic abscesses, cholecystitis, endocarditis, and osteitis are also the symptoms which are related with this disease appear in mild or severe form.