By Joy Anyim
Many health issues take the form of a fever in its early stage, this underscores the reason health care providers always advocate for immediate and swift visit to a health centre or a hospital in such circumstances.
However, of the many infections, ailment or diseases that take the colouration of a fever, typhoid fever ranks among the highest.
Not easily treated, typhoid fever is more prevalent in developing countries like Nigeria and has remained a source of concern both locally and internationally,.
Reports have it that there are more than 100, 000 cases yearly in Nigeria, while 21.5 million people contract typhoid yearly.
According to World Health Organisation, typhoid fever, which is also known as enteric fever, is caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria. The bacterium lines in the intestines and bloodstream of humans.
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Typhoid fever can lead to other health complications, which may be fatal sometimes. It is estimated that one in five untreated cases of typhoid can be fatal.
How does one get typhoid?
No animal carries this disease. It is often from human to human infection. Typhoid spreads through contaminated food, water or through close contact with someone, who is infected. It can also be contracted through direct contact with the faeces of an infected person.
Risk Factors:
- Those who work or travel to areas where typhoid is established (endemic) are at risk.
- A person who work as a clinical microbiologist, handling Salmonella Typhi bacteria, is also at risk of contacting the disease.
What are the signs/symptom?
The signs and symptoms are likely to develop gradually, often appearing one to three weeks after exposure to the disease.
Some noticeable symptoms that may be linked to typhoid can be noticed as early illness stage and the late illness stage.
Early illness include: Fever that starts low and increases daily, serious headache, weakness and fatigue, muscle aches, sweating, dry cough, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, rash and sometimes extremely swollen abdomen.
Late illness: Symptoms escalate to this stage when one does not receive treatment: become delirious, lie motionless an exhausted with eyes half-closed in what is known as the typhoid state.
How can Typhoid Fever be Diagnosed?
It can be diagnosed through a laboratory test to detect the presence of Salmonella Typhi in the blood, urine or bone marrow sample.
Treatment: It is always better to alert your doctor once any of the above listed symptoms is noticed. Early diagnosis and treatment of any disease or infection is less expensive, typhoid inclusive. Typhoid can be treated, using antibiotics on doctor’s prescription to flush out the bacteria from the body to avoid complications.
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Complications from Typhoid:
Life-threatening complications often develop when typhoid fever is not well treated. Some persons, even after treatment with antibiotics, continue to harbour the bacteria in their intestinal tracts or gallbladder for years.
They are called the chronic carriers. Some of the complications that may result from this are: Intestinal bleeding or holes, inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the lining of the heart and valves, Pneumonia, inflammation of the pancreas, Kidney or bladder infection and many others.
How to prevent typhoid
Prevention is always cheaper than treatment. Vaccines are always a better way of prevention. But in typhoid, vaccines are not a 100 per cent guard from contracting it.
Some other preventive measures that can be taken are: safe drinking water, avoid raw fruits and vegetables, improved sanitation and adequate medical care, wash hands with soap regularly, avoid drinking untreated water and choose hot foods.
Not to spread typhoid, infected persons are advised to take antibiotics, wash hand often and avoid handling food.