TYPHOID,CAUSES,SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS,TREATMENT,PREVENTION

 Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria. Typhoid fever is rare in developed countries. It is still a serious health threat in the developing world, especially for children.

WHAT IS TYPHOID FEVER?

Typhoid is an infection of the gut that affects the whole body. It is spread from feces-to-mouth in contaminated food and water and often comes in epidemics(many people sick at once).Of the different infections sometimes called 'the  fever' ,typhoid is one of the most dangerous.

SIGNS OF TYPHOID FEVER?

Early illness

Signs and symptoms include:

1.Fever that starts low and increases daily, possibly reaching as high as 104.9 F (40.5 C)

2.Headache

3.Weakness and fatigue

4.Muscle ache

5.Sweating

6.Dry Cough

7.Sore throat

8.Loss of appetite and weight

9.Stomach pain

10.Diarrhea,vomiting or Constipation

11.Rash

12.Extreamly sollowen stomach

Later illness

Without treatment, you may:

1Become delirious

2.Lie motionless and exhausted with your eyes half-closed in what's known as the typhoid state.

TREATMENT:

1.Seek medical help

2.In areas where typhoid has resistant to chloramphenicol and ampicillin,give co-trimoxazole for at least 2 weeks.

3.or try chloramphenicol,adults:3 capsules of 250mg.4 times a day for at least 2 weeks.If there is no chloramphenicol, use ampillin or tetracycline.

4.lower the fever with cool wet cloths

5.Give plenty of liquids:soups,juices,and Rehydration Drink to avoid dehydration.

6.Give nutritious foods,in liquid form if necessary.

7.If the shits blood or develops signs of peritonitis or pneumonia,take her to a hospital at once.

PREVENTION:

Wash your hands. Frequent hand-washing in hot, soapy water is the best way to control infection. Wash before eating or preparing food and after using the toilet. Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for times when water isn't available.

Avoid drinking untreated water. Contaminated drinking water is a particular problem in areas where typhoid fever is endemic. For that reason, drink only bottled water or canned or bottled carbonated beverages, wine and beer. Carbonated bottled water is safer than non-carbonated bottled water.

Ask for drinks without ice. Use bottled water to brush your teeth, and try not to swallow water in the shower.

Avoid raw fruits and vegetables. Because raw produce may have been washed in contaminated water, avoid fruits and vegetables that you can't peel, especially lettuce. To be absolutely safe, you may want to avoid raw foods entirely.Choose hot foods. Avoid food that's stored or served at room temperature. Steaming hot foods are best. And although there's no guarantee that meals served at the finest restaurants are safe, it's best to avoid food from street vendors — it's more likely to be infected.

Know where the doctors are. Find out in advance about medical care in the areas you'll visit, and carry a list of the names, addresses and phone numbers of recommended doctors.

PREVENT INFECTING OTHERS

If you're recovering from typhoid fever, these measures can help keep others safe:

Take your antibiotics. Follow your doctor's instructions for taking your antibiotics, and be sure to finish the entire prescriptionWash your hands often. This is the single most important thing you can do to keep from spreading the infection to others. Use hot, soapy water and scrub thoroughly for at least 30 seconds, especially before eating and after using the toilet. Avoid handling food. Avoid preparing food for others until your doctor says you're no longer contagious. If you work in the food service industry or a health care facility, you won't be allowed to return to work until tests show that you're no longer shedding typhoid bacteria.