Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is an orally contracted disease caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi , also called Salmonella Typhi. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several days. This is commonly accompanied by weakness, pain, , headaches, and mild vomiting. Some people develop a skin rash with rose colored spots. In severe cases, people may experience confusion. Without treatment, symptoms may last weeks or months. may be severe, but is uncommon. Other people may carry it without being affected, but are still contagious. Typhoid fever is a type of enteric fever, along with paratyphoid fever. Salmonella enterica Typhi is believed to infect and replicate only within humans.
Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.
Symptoms — what it feels like
- ·Fever that starts low and increases daily, possibly reaching as high as
- ·Headache, weakness and , muscle aches, sweating, dry cough, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach pain, or , rash, swollen stomach (enlarged liver or )
Causes — why it happens
- · of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi
Prevention
- ·Preventable by vaccine. Travelers to regions with higher typhoid are usually encouraged to get a vaccination before travel.
Treatment
- ·, hydration, in extreme cases. Quarantine to avoid exposing others (not commonly done in modern times).
Outlook
- ·Likely to recover without if proper are administered and diagnosed early. If the infecting strain is multi-drug resistant or extensively drug-resistant then the is more difficult to determine.
- ·Among untreated acute cases, 10% will shed for three months after the initial onset of symptoms, and 2–5% will become typhoid carriers.
- ·Some carriers are diagnosed by positive specimens. carriers are by definition .