What Is Typhoid Fever? Here Are the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Do you know what typhoid fever is? Typhoid fever is a disease typically characterized by high fever, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, muscle pain, diarrhea, and other symptoms. It is caused by a Salmonella typhi bacterial infection. This bacteria is usually found in contaminated foods or drinks.

 

Typhoid fever is often experienced by children because their immune systems are less developed than adults. However, adults are still likely to experience typhoid fever as well. You can read this article below to learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for typhoid fever. 

 

What Is Typhoid Fever?

 

So, what is typhoid fever? Typhoid fever, or typhoid for short, is a disease that occurs due to an infection by Salmonella typhi. This bacterial infection can lead to various symptoms, including fever, abdominal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, muscle pain, and more.

 

Typhoid fever requires careful and proper treatments. If left untreated, typhoid fever can be dangerous as it can lead to serious complications, such as digestive tract inflammation,  pneumonia, decreased consciousness, and so on.

 

Additionally, many people mistakenly think that typhus and typhoid fever are the same. While there are some similarities in their symptoms, these two diseases have different causes.

 

Typhoid fever is a disease caused by Salmonella typhi infection and is transmitted through contaminated food and drinks. On the other hand, typhus fever is a disease caused by the bacteria Rickettsia and Orientia, and transmitted or spread through mite or lice bites.

 

Causes of Typhoid Fever

 

As mentioned earlier, the cause of typhoid fever is a bacterial infection by Salmonella typhi. This bacteria can be found in contaminated food and drinks. Furthermore, there are several risk factors for typhoid fever, including: 

 

• Children under 10 years old.

• Having a weak immune system.

• Living in an unsanitary environment.

• Not washing hands before eating.

• Using public toilets contaminated with bacteria.

• Cooking food without washing the ingredients thoroughly.

• Sharing utensils with a typhoid patient.

• Traveling to countries with limited access to clean water.

 

Symptoms of Typhoid Fever 

 

The incubation period for the Salmonella typhi is about 3 to 60 days. Afterward, typhoid fever symptoms will begin to manifest in the patient.

 

Moreover, some people have difficulty differentiating between typhoid fever and dengue fever due to their similar symptoms. Hence, recognizing typhoid fever symptoms properly is essential to distinguish them. Some typhoid fever symptoms include:

 

• Prolonged fever where the body temperature will gradually and slowly rise.

• Digestive disorders, including constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.

• Joint and muscle pain.

• Loss of appetite.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Dizziness or headaches.

• Weakness. 

 

Treating Typhoid Fever

 

If there is an indication of typhoid fever, the doctor will conduct a medical examination before proceeding with treatment. The medical examinations performed to diagnose typhoid fever include:

 

• Anamnesis: The doctor will ask some questions related to what the patient is experiencing.

• Physical examination: The doctor examines the patient’s physical condition, including their body temperature, skin rashes, abdominal enlargement, etc.

• Laboratory tests: The doctor will take blood and stool samples from the patient and analyze them in the laboratory to check for the presence of the Salmonella typhi bacteria in the body.

 

Once the patient is confirmed to have typhoid fever, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics as a part of the treatment. The treatment can be carried out on an outpatient or inpatient basis depending on the severity. 

 

Furthermore, the doctor will advise the patient to maintain their hygiene and recommend a proper typhoid diet. The doctor will also explain some restrictions for typhoid fever, such as avoiding raw food, heavy physical activity, and drinking unclean water. 

 

Promptly Consult a Doctor!

 

That is a complete overview of typhoid fever. To summarize, typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by food and drink contamination. Therefore, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the food and drinks you consume to prevent typhoid fever. You can also get Typhoid Vaccination to prevent the bacterial infection.

 

If you have typhoid fever, you can consult a doctor at the nearest Siloam Hospitals. Siloam Hospitals is a hospital that provides quality medical care for various health complaints, including typhoid fever. Or, if you prefer online consultation with our doctor, you can use our teleconsultation service.

 

You can utilize our teleconsultation services and book your appointment with Siloam Hospitals doctors through our MySiloam app. So, let’s download the app and prioritize your health #TogetherWithSiloam!