Typhoid: Causes, Symptoms and Its Cure

There are many bacterial diseases in the world such as Bacteria, Infectious disease, Cholera, Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Plague, Syphilis, Antharax, Scarlet Fever, Diptheria. Typhoid is also a bacterial infection which is very infectious, contagious and can led to death if not treated on time. Scientists have identified two types of typhoid causing bacterium namely ST 1 & ST 2. Typhoid is also known as Enteric Fever.

Symptoms of Typhoid

1. Stomach Ache
2. Headache
3. Constipitation
4. Diarrhoea
5. High temperature : 103 – 104F (39 – 40º C)

Causes of Typhoid

The reason behind Typhoid is a bacterium Salmonella typhi. It is a rod shaped and grows in the small intestine of the human body. Human beings are the main hosts of these bacteria. This bacterium is from same genus that causes salmonella (food poisoning). This bacteria is a gram negative bacteria. The cells are reddish in color, with some have black stains in the centre. This type of species can survive in oxygen rich environments and also they are found in sewage, water bodies and some eventually make their own on to food.

This spreads normally in those countries where sanitation is not very good, where the waste of humans can find its way into the sources of potable water.

The spreading of Typhoid is usually through contact with infected people’s urine and faeces.

If not treated on time, one out of five infected people’s cases is fatal. In starting the symptoms will be mild and if treated on time the patient can be cured within two weeks. That’s why as soon as possible the treatment should be done with a course of antibiotics. Serious cases will require to go hospital for their treatment with some antibiotic injections.

How organs are affected by typhoid ?

Being bacterial infection it doesn’t affect one specific organ, it causes harms to multiple organs in body. After the infection, bacteria reaches the blood stream from where it goes to different organs causing various symptoms. Liver, spleen and muscles are mostly affected. Through blood stream, bacteria can also reach gallbladder, lungs and kidneys.

Thypoid Fever in India

In developing countries like India, typhoid is a common but serious disease. There are almost 100,000 typhoid cases everyyear in india. If only talk about our national capital Delhi, almost 27,000 typhoid cases are registered in India. Enteric disease is very common in India. Particularly low income country like India where majority of the population is striving for safe and potable water, limited sanitization, and hygeine also. Usually children below 15 years of age are more suspectible to the disease rather than adults because of low strong immunity system. A study from North India suggests that most of the cases were in children of ages 5 to 12 years.

Treatment of Typhoid

WHO reccomends three typhoid vaccines for the control of typhoid disease. These three vaccinations are :

1. Tyhphoid Conjugate Vaccine
2. Unconjugated polysaccharide Vaccine
3. Ty21a Vaccine

1. Tyhphoid Conjugate Vaccine : TCV is given to children from 6 months of age and adults upto 45 years of age. It consists of Vi polysaccharide antigen linked to tentanus toxoid protein.
2. Unconjugated polysaccharide Vaccine : This vaccine is licensed for children aged two years and above. This is also known as VI-PS vaccine based on the purified Vi antigen.
3. Oral live attenuated Ty21a Vaccine : For over six years of age, this vaccine is a capsule formulation.

Among these vaccines TCV is preferred at all ages in view of its improved immunological properties, suitability for use in younger children and expected longer duration of protection. WHO further recommends that all typhoid fever vaccination programmes should be implemented in the context of other efforts to control the disease including health education, water quality and sanitization improvements, and training of health professionals in diagnosis and treatment.

Thypoid Fever in World

According to recent reports there are between 11 and 21 million cases of typhoid worldwide. And 128,000 to 161,000 deaths related to typhoid occur annually worldwide.

Typhoid fever is endemic in Asia, Africa, Latin America etc. but 80% of the cases come from China, Nepal, Indonesia, China, India, Pakistan and Vietnam. Typhoid fever is mostly common in underdeveloped areas. Typhoid fever infects 21.6 million people every year. and kills an estimated 200,000 people every year.

How To Get Prevented from Typhoid

1. Eat well cooked food : Every food has harmful germs in it. So for preventing typhoid you need to eat cooked food which kills the germs present in it.
2. Avoid drinking unboiled or unfiltered water : The water you drink should be boiled, filtered or chemically disinfected first to kill the germs present in it. And while brushing or washing food avoid tap water because it can contain germs in it.
3. Keep sanitization : Always remember to wash your hands or sanitize before and after eating food or after coming from somewhere.
4. Vaccination : There are two vaccines availaible to protect you from typhoid. But consult to your doctor about the correct course of vaccination.

Who should get typhoid fever vaccine ?

1. Laboratory workers who are handling Salemonella typhi bacteria
2.  Typhoid fever mild or serious symptoms patients.
3.  Travelers visiting typhoid infected towns, villages or cities.
4.  People who are living near by typhoid carrier.

Who should not get the typhoid vaccine ?

1. Children who don’t meet the minimum age requirement for vaccination.
2. Those people who are taking antibiotics.
3.  Those people whose immune systems are weak due to diseases, virus, etc.
4. People who have shown a severe reaction to typhoid vaccine.
5. People with an illness like high fever or temperature.

How much quantity is needed of vaccine ?

Typhoid vaccine can be used in two ways : via injections and orally in the form of capsules or tablets. In activated typhoid vaccine shot is given in a single dose, i.e., one dose is enough for protection. On the other side, three tablets are necessary for people in Australia and Europe while in Canada and America four tablets are ingested on days 1,3 and five while in North America four tablets are ingested on days 1,3,5, and 7.

Side Effects of Typhoid Vaccine

The vaccine is although useful but some side effects are also possible. The common side effects are as follows :

1.  feeling of discomfort
2.  Fever
3.  Headache
4.  Muscle Pain
5.  Pain, swelling, and redness at the site of the injection.
6.  Itchy feet and hand
7.  Swelling of face, eyes and inside of your nose.