INTRODUCTION to TYPHOID FEVER
Typhoid is a bacterial disease transmitted by food or water contaminated with the bacteria Samonella, Typhi. If you eat or drink something that is contaminated then the bacteria is able to enter your body. It travels throughout your body to get to the bloodstream where it can then reach your gallbladder, liver, spleen and other parts of your body. It is most prevalent in developing countries that tend to be unsanitary but can be brought into developed countries by international travelers.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
Symptoms at the beginning include a fever (103 F or above) , feeling achy or ill, and pain in your stomach. As the disease progresses the fever worsens and severe diarrhea occurs. Some people develop rashes all over their chest and abdomen. Other symptoms that are not always as common as the above but still occur are bloody stools, chills, confusion, attention deficit, delirium, hallucinations, noes bleeds, severe fatigue, weakness and lethargic feelings.
The course of the untreated fever is broken up into four separate stages, each lasting about one week. The first week temperature increases slowly, your head might hurt and you may have a slight cough. Noes bleeds are possible as well as abdominal pains. The Widal test is taken and if the patient is tested as negative in the first week, there is a high chance that they could have the Typhoid fever.
The second week the patient has a fever above 104 F, they are delirious frequently, mostly calm but sometimes agitated. The "rose spots", the rash, are showing up over the chest and stomach at this point. Stomach pains intensify in the right lower quadrant where you can hear gurgling, which are stomach contractions in the intestine trying to move food and gases which are pushed up against the wall of the stomach, therefor the can be easily heard. Diarrhea occurs in this stage, however constipation is also frequent. The spleen and liver are inflamed and tender.
During the third week Intestinal hemorrhage can occur but is usually not fatal. Intestinal perforation is prevalent in the distal ileum and is frequently fatal. The fever is still high and patient is still delirious. By the end of the third week the fever and symptoms start reducing and this continues onto the last week.
The course of the untreated fever is broken up into four separate stages, each lasting about one week. The first week temperature increases slowly, your head might hurt and you may have a slight cough. Noes bleeds are possible as well as abdominal pains. The Widal test is taken and if the patient is tested as negative in the first week, there is a high chance that they could have the Typhoid fever.
The second week the patient has a fever above 104 F, they are delirious frequently, mostly calm but sometimes agitated. The "rose spots", the rash, are showing up over the chest and stomach at this point. Stomach pains intensify in the right lower quadrant where you can hear gurgling, which are stomach contractions in the intestine trying to move food and gases which are pushed up against the wall of the stomach, therefor the can be easily heard. Diarrhea occurs in this stage, however constipation is also frequent. The spleen and liver are inflamed and tender.
During the third week Intestinal hemorrhage can occur but is usually not fatal. Intestinal perforation is prevalent in the distal ileum and is frequently fatal. The fever is still high and patient is still delirious. By the end of the third week the fever and symptoms start reducing and this continues onto the last week.
TREATMENT
Since Typhoid fever is caused by the contamination of food or water, one of the ways they cured it in the 1960s was with oral re hydration therapy. This provided patients with clean water which helped wash out the bacteria and stop the diarrhea which was the main cause of death. Typhoid in most cases, is not fatal, there are multiple antibiotics that can treat it quickly. The disease lasts three to four weeks and then tapers off, death occurs between 10% and 30% of untreated cases. Surgery is only needed when your intestine has been opened due to the bacteria and sickness. When that happens surgeons tend to use a simple closure and drainage of the intestine.
DISCOVERY
Karl Joseph Eberth, a German bacteriologist, identified typhoid in 1880, according to the security website Globalsecurity.org.
In 1909, an army physician made the first successful typhoid vaccine that reduced soldier mortality rates. In 1942, antibiotics were introduced, which led to further declines in mortality. Most developed countries saw a decline in typhoid during the first half of the 20th century because of the growing availability of vaccine.
In 1909, an army physician made the first successful typhoid vaccine that reduced soldier mortality rates. In 1942, antibiotics were introduced, which led to further declines in mortality. Most developed countries saw a decline in typhoid during the first half of the 20th century because of the growing availability of vaccine.
Relation to Water
(Information taken from CDC)
Incidence of Typhoid Fever, 1920-1960. With the implementation of disinfection methods for drinking water, there has been a drastic decline in cases of typhoid fever in the United States. Image Credit: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services In 1900 there were approximately 100 cases of typhoid fever for every 100,000 persons living in the United States. In 2006, the rate had declined to 0.1 cases for every 100,000 persons (only 353 cases of illness in total) and approximately 75% —or 265 cases—occurred among international travelers.
Incidence of Typhoid Fever, 1920-1960. With the implementation of disinfection methods for drinking water, there has been a drastic decline in cases of typhoid fever in the United States. Image Credit: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services In 1900 there were approximately 100 cases of typhoid fever for every 100,000 persons living in the United States. In 2006, the rate had declined to 0.1 cases for every 100,000 persons (only 353 cases of illness in total) and approximately 75% —or 265 cases—occurred among international travelers.