Typhoid fever is uncommon in the UK, with an estimated cases occurring each year. Most of these people are thought to have developed the infection while visiting relatives in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. If the condition is not treated, the symptoms continue to get worse over the following weeks and the risk of developing potentially fatal complications increases.
Possible complications include internal bleeding or a section of the digestive system or bowel splitting open and causing widespread infection. Read more about the symptoms of typhoid fever and the complications of typhoid fever. Typhoid fever requires prompt treatment with antibiotics. If diagnosed in its early stages, the condition is likely to be mild and can usually be treated at home with a day course of antibiotic tablets.
More serious cases of typhoid fever usually require admission to hospital so antibiotic injections can be given. With prompt antibiotic treatment, most people will start to feel better within a few days and serious complications are very rare. Deaths from typhoid fever are now virtually unheard of in the UK. However, if typhoid fever is not treated, it's estimated that up to 1 in 5 people with the condition will die and some of those who survive typhoid fever will have permanent physical or mental disabilities.
Read more about treating typhoid fever. Vaccination is recommended for anyone who is planning to travel to parts of the world where the typhoid is widespread, particularly if you are planning to live or work closely with local people. For example, you should only drink bottled or boiled water and avoid foods that could potentially be contaminated. Read more about the typhoid fever vaccination. The symptoms of typhoid fever usually develop one or two weeks after a person becomes infected with the Salmonella typhi bacteria.
If typhoid fever is not treated, the condition usually gets worse over a few weeks and there's a significant risk that life-threatening complications of typhoid fever may develop. Without treatment, it can take weeks or even months to fully recover and symptoms can return. You should see your doctor as soon as possible if you have symptoms of typhoid fever even if you have been vaccinated against it , particularly if you have recently returned from travelling abroad.
It is unlikely that your symptoms are caused by typhoid fever, but it's best to get them checked out in case you need treatment. Before you travel, it is a good idea to make a list of relevant contact details and telephone numbers in case of an emergency. Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in the body. Some can cause illness and disease and others are good for you. Constipation is when you pass stools less often than usual, or when you have difficulty going to the toilet because your stools are hard and small.
This is not the same type of bacteria that can cause salmonella food poisoning , but the two are related. When someone with the infection has a bowel movement, they may pass stools faeces that contain the Salmonella typhi bacteria. If they do not wash their hands properly after going to the toilet, they can contaminate any food they touch. If this is eaten by another person, they may also become infected.
Less commonly, the Salmonella typhi bacteria can be passed out in an infected person's urine. Again, if an infected person handles food without washing their hands properly after urinating, they can spread the infection to someone else who eats the contaminated food. In parts of the world with poor levels of sanitation, infected human waste can contaminate the water supply. People who drink contaminated water or eat food washed in contaminated water can develop typhoid fever.
Up to 1 in every 20 people who survive typhoid fever without being treated will become carriers of the infection.
This means the Salmonella typhi bacteria continue to live in the carrier's body and can be spread as normal in faeces or urine, but the carrier doesn't have any noticeable symptoms of typhoid fever. After a person eats or drinks food or liquid contaminated with the Salmonella typhi bacteria, the bacteria will move down into their digestive system. The bacteria will then quickly multiply, triggering the initial symptoms such as a high temperature, stomach pain and constipation or diarrhoea.
If the person is not treated, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream, which means they can spread to other areas of the body. The spread of bacteria out of the digestive system can cause the symptoms of typhoid fever to get worse during the weeks following infection.
If the organs and tissue become damaged as a result of the infection, it can cause serious complications, such as internal bleeding or a section of the bowel splitting open. Stool also known as faeces is the solid waste matter that is passed from the body as a bowel movement.
You should see your doctor if you think you have typhoid fever, particularly if you have recently returned from travelling abroad. Areas of the world where the infection is most common include Africa, the Indian subcontinent, south east Asia, and South America.
A diagnosis of typhoid fever can usually be confirmed by analysing samples of blood, stools or urine and examining them under a microscope for the Salmonella typhi bacteria that cause the condition. Testing a sample of bone marrow is a more accurate way to diagnose typhoid fever. However, getting the sample is both time consuming and painful, so it is usually only used if other tests are inconclusive.
If testing confirms that you have typhoid fever, it may be recommended that other members of your household are also tested in case you have passed the infection to them. In most cases you can be treated at home, but hospital admission may be required if the condition is severe.
If typhoid fever is diagnosed in its early stages, a course of antibiotic tablets may be prescribed for you. Most people need to take these for days. Some strains of the Salmonella typhi bacteria that cause typhoid fever have developed a resistance to one or more types of antibiotics. This is becoming a particularly increasing problem in typhoid infections originating in South East Asia. Therefore, any blood, stool or urine samples taken during your diagnosis will usually be tested in a laboratory to determine which strain you are infected with so you can be treated with an appropriate antibiotic.
Your symptoms should begin to improve within days of taking antibiotics, but it is very important that you finish the course to help ensure the bacteria are completely removed from your body. Make sure that you rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat regular meals. You may be able to tolerate eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than three larger meals a day.
You should also take care to practise good personal hygiene, such as regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water, to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if your symptoms get worse or if you develop new symptoms while being treated at home. In a small number of cases the symptoms or infection may recur.
This is known as a relapse see below. Most people being treated for typhoid fever can return to work or school as soon as they start to feel better.
The exceptions to this are people who work with food and vulnerable people such as children under 5, the elderly and those in poor health. In these cases, you should only return to work or nursery after tests on three stool samples taken at weekly intervals have shown that the bacteria are no longer present.
Hospital admission is usually recommended if you have severe symptoms, such as persistent vomiting, severe diarrhoea or a swollen tummy. In hospital, you will be given antibiotic injections and you may also be given fluids and nutrients directly into a vein via an intravenous drip.
To avoid complications, set up an appointment immediately after you have returned from a trip. If you experience mild or severe symptoms, do not hesitate and reach out to your physician at the earliest. The diagnosis is primarily clinical.
But the most common techniques are using a stool sample or blood test. Tell your doctor if you have traveled recently. This will help identify the disease properly and at the right time to prevent complications. This includes a lack of proper sanitation and poor hygiene practices. In humans, water-borne diseases are the carriers. Fecal contamination also occurs through food, water, and direct contact. In developing countries, where enteric fever is endemic, most infections originate from drinking contaminated water.
Travelers spread the disease through a fecal-oral route. So, the bacteria responsible passes in the feces. It also stays in the urine of infected people. You can also catch the infection if you get in contact with someone suffering from typhoid fever.
There are some patients who, even after recovery, carry the disease in their intestinal tracts or gall bladders for quite some time. These carriers shed bacteria in the feces, causing infection to other people. Typhoid is a serious illness affecting millions of people around the world every year. Children are at higher risk of this disease. Complications occur in patients who do not undergo the proper antibiotic course. The most common ones observed are:.
Splitting of the digestive system: Splitting or Perforation is a serious issue. In this, the bacteria move to the stomach and infect the abdomen lining peritoneum. The condition is peritonitis. The peritoneum lacks an inbuilt defense system for fighting infection.
Therefore, the infection spreads rapidly to the blood and results in a medical emergency. In this condition, admission to the hospital is very important. Your doctor gives antibiotic injections, followed by surgery to seal the intestinal wall.
Internal bleeding: It is another form of complication which occurs in the digestive system. It can make you feel tired and unwell. The major symptoms in patients with internal bleeding are breathlessness, irregular heartbeat, pale skin, tiredness, vomiting blood, etc. In this situation, doctors recommend a blood transfusion process. Complications generally occur during the third week of enteric fever.
Consult your doctor immediately. If the report is positive, your doctor will prescribe some medications. In most of the cases, doctors cure this illness with a course of antibiotics. You will start seeing improvements in days and recover within a week. However, there are other factors that better determine which treatment works for you. Your doctor will help you understand based on the severity of the disease. For severe cases, admission to the hospital is necessary.
A proper course of antibiotic treatment will make you feel better. If not diagnosed on time, typhoid can be fatal. The blood can carry the bacteria to other organs including the lungs, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys.
Infections in these organs can cause other problems and symptoms, such as pneumonia. Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
How does typhoid fever affect the body?
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