Having a Typhoid Scare? Here is Everything to Know!

If you have been suffering from prolonged fever or have consistent body ache, unfortunately, you may have Typhoid. 

Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by a bacterium called Salmonella typhi. One of the most concerning things about Typhoid is it can spread to other parts of the body, causing damage to multiple organs at once. If not treated on time, this infection can turn extremely serious and even life-threatening.

Worse, a person with Typhoid can pass the bacteria onto others through their stools and urine. Anyone who consumes food and drinks that have been contaminated with the infected stool or urine can get infected with the disease.

Who is Vulnerable to The Disease?

Because of the nature of its spread, Typhoid is most likely seen in people residing in places with poor hygiene standards. Children and younger adults residing in such areas are more likely to get infected. 

That is because the disease-fighting mechanism in small children and young adults is still in the development stage. This makes them most vulnerable to getting infected with contagious diseases.

The US sees an average number of cases of Typhoid every year. The country sees approximately 5,700 people getting infected with the disease each year. They most probably get it after they have traveled to countries where these diseases are rampant.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Typhoid?

Typhoid is easy to identify at its earliest stages as it has some common signs and symptoms. You might be affected by the disease if you show the following signs and symptoms for a prolonged period:

• High fever ranging between 103 to 104 °F.
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain
• Rashes
• Fatigue
• Sense of confusion- finding it difficult to focus on the current surroundings. 

If you develop some or all these symptoms, it is advisable to visit a doctor immediately for a checkup. If you leave the signs untreated, they will become worse over the following weeks and lead to more severe complications.  

These complications include internal bleeding or splitting a section of the digestive system, leading to more parts of your body getting infected with the disease.

Once the person is infected with the bacterium of Typhoid, they may develop the above symptoms within one or two weeks. With timely medical care, improvement can be seen as early as 3 to 5 days.  

The Treatment of Typhoid

Typhoid in its early stages is mostly treatable within 7 to 14 days with antibiotics. However, people with severe conditions are required to stay in the hospital till the symptoms go away.

Regardless of the severity of the disease, it must be treated by an experienced doctor. Many people mistake taking Typhoid easily during its early stages, leading to fatal complications that might even lead to the person’s death. 

Also, it will take anywhere between weeks to months to recover, with the symptoms recurring over time. But with medical assistance, Typhoid is certainly treatable within a few weeks.

You can also get vaccinated to protect yourself against Typhoid before traveling to a country with many cases of the disease. Apart from getting vaccinated, following proper precautions like drinking boiled water and avoiding eating at unhygienic restaurants can keep you safe from getting infected.

The Bottomline

Finding out the signs and symptoms of Typhoid can help you catch the disease at its earliest stages and stop it from becoming fatal. If you have returned from somewhere and started showing signs of Typhoid, don’t make the mistake of shrugging it off as jet lag. Search for laboratory testing near you to get your blood tested for Typhoid. 

Seek immediate medical attention so that you can recover from the disease without having any severe complications.