Let's find out exactly what typhoid fever is spreading these days.

Have you ever suddenly developed a high fever, felt weak, and had a headache ? Especially after eating outside food or visiting an area without running water, one of the main doubts that comes to our mind is, "Is this typhoid fever?" Is this really something to be afraid of? How does it develop? What are the symptoms? Let's talk about all of this in detail and simply today.

What is typhoid fever ?

Simply put, typhoid fever is a serious infection caused by a bacteria called ` Salmonella Typhi` . Some people also call it `enteric fever`. There is a related condition caused by a bacteria called ` Salmonella Paratyphi`, which has slightly fewer symptoms, and it is called `Paratyphoid fever`.

Both diseases are mainly transmitted through the ingestion of water or food contaminated with the feces or urine of an infected person . This means that it can be easily transmitted through things like undercooked food, raw fruit (without peeling it), and unpasteurized milk or fruit drinks.

This disease is relatively common in South Asian countries like Sri Lanka. Young children in particular are more at risk of contracting this disease than adults.

What are the main causes of typhoid fever?

The way it spreads is very simple. If a person with typhoid fever goes to the toilet and doesn't wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, the bacteria will stay on their hands. Then, if they use those hands to prepare food or touch a glass of water, the germs will get on those things. This bacteria can live in dirty water or dry feces for weeks. So, if you drink dirty water or eat food like that, the bacteria will enter your body and make you sick.

Who are carriers?

There is a special group of people that we need to know about. They are carriers . This means that people who have had typhoid fever, have taken medicine, and are now completely healthy. However, even though they have no symptoms, the bacteria still live in their bodies, especially in the gallbladder. So these people can spread the disease to others. Therefore, even if you have had typhoid and recovered, it is very important to get a medical test to confirm whether you are a carrier.

What are the symptoms of typhoid fever?

Symptoms usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after the germ enters the body. Early symptoms may include:

• High fever: A fever that rises to 103-104 Fahrenheit (39-40 Celsius). Sometimes there may be a pattern of fever rising at night, falling in the morning, and rising again at night.
• Severe headache
• Shivering due to cold
• Feeling lethargic and tired
• Muscle pain
• Sweating
• Cough
• Appetite
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Rose spots on the skin - especially on the chest and stomach area.

If the disease becomes severe, conditions such as bloating , severe abdominal pain, and sepsis, a severe infection that spreads throughout the body, can occur.

How is typhoid fever diagnosed and treated?

After hearing about your symptoms and recent travel history (especially overseas), your doctor may suspect that it could be typhoid. To confirm the diagnosis, they will do several tests to check for the presence of the bacteria `Salmonella Typhi` in your body.

• Blood culture: The most commonly performed test.
• Stool culture: This tests to see if bacteria are present in the stool.
• Widal test: This test checks for antibodies against typhoid bacteria in the blood.
• Bone marrow examination: This is rarely done.

Treatment methods

If you start treatment as soon as your symptoms start, you will start to feel better within a few days. However, it is essential to take the entire prescription prescribed by your doctor for the full duration (usually 7-14 days). Otherwise, the disease may recur.

Sometimes, strains of typhoid bacteria found in different regions are resistant to certain antibiotics. So telling your doctor about your travels can help him choose the right medicine.

Take care of food and drink.

While taking medication, it is a good idea to adopt a diet like this to help you recover faster:

• Well-cooked vegetables: Stop eating things like raw salads for a while.
• Easily digestible fruits: Things like ripe bananas, applesauce, and watermelon.
• White rice, bread, pasta: Stop eating high-fiber foods like brown bread and bran rice for a few days.
• Protein: Eat well-cooked foods like eggs, chicken, fish, and lentils.
• Water: Drink purified water or boiled water as much as possible. It is very important to prevent dehydration.

Stay away from spicy, oily, and high-fiber foods (cakes, chips, nuts) until you recover.

How to protect yourself from typhoid fever?

Typhoid fever is much easier to prevent than to treat. If you follow these simple practices, you can be much more protected.

• Wash your hands often:Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after eating and after using the bathroom. If water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Safe food: Eat food that is well-cooked and hot whenever possible. Avoid eating from roadside, fly-infested, or dirty places.
• Clean water: Drink only bottled water or well-boiled water. Use this water to brush your teeth. Never drink drinks with ice cubes from suspicious places.
• Things to eat raw: If you eat fruit, peel it. If you eat things like salad, wash it thoroughly with clean water.
• Get vaccinated: If you are traveling to a country where typhoid is common, get a typhoid vaccine before you go. This vaccine provides 50%-80% protection. Even if you get vaccinated, it is still important to follow other safety measures.

Serious complications of the disease

If not treated promptly, typhoid fever can cause serious complications.

• Intestinal bleeding or perforation
• Sepsis is a severe infection that spreads throughout the body.
• Gallbladder swelling or rupture
• Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
• Infection of the brain or spinal cord (meningitis)
• Pneumonia or bronchitis
• Kidney infections

Such severe conditions can even be life-threatening. Therefore, it is very important to see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis when you develop a fever, rather than dismissing it as "just a normal flu."