Typhus Fever Meaning
Typhus or typhoid fever is a disease caused by infection with the bacteria Salmonella typhi. The bacteria are spread through contaminated food and drink.
Although both are infectious diseases, typhus is different from typhus. Typhus occurs due to infection of Rickettsia and orientia bacteria through flea or mite bites. While typhus is transmitted through food or drink.
Typhoid fever is a highly contagious disease that occurs mostly in developing countries. It is more likely to be experienced by children than adults.
However, adults can also be exposed to the bacteria and pass it on to others. The sufferer can also transmit the bacteria from their body through their feces or, less commonly, through their urine.
Most people get better after about a week of antibiotics. There are also vaccinations that can help protect against typhus.
Typhus Symptoms
Typhus symptoms usually begin to appear 1 to 3 weeks after the body is infected with the bacteria. Signs include high fever, diarrhea or constipation, headaches, and abdominal pain that can worsen over several weeks.
If typhoid is diagnosed in the early stages, you can undergo treatment at home with antibiotics for 1-2 weeks. Hospitalization is needed in the later stages.
The following are the early symptoms of typhus:
- The fever may start out mild and increase throughout the day, possibly reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
- Chills.
- Headache.
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Muscle pain.
- Stomach ache.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Rash.
Sufferers may also experience coughing, loss of appetite, and sweating. A few weeks later, these symptoms may appear:
- Stomach ache.
- The stomach is very swollen.
- An infection that occurs due to intestinal bacteria spreading throughout the body is called sepsis.
- In very serious cases, sufferers may experience symptoms:
- Getting confused.
- Unable to pay attention to anything around him.
- Unable to react to the world around him.
This condition is dangerous and requires immediate medical attention.
Causes of Typhus
The main cause of typhoid fever is the bacteria Salmonella type. This bacteria is directly related to the disease Salmonellosis which causes a more severe digestive system infection than typhus.
Salmonella thypi can be transmitted through contaminated food and drink. This can happen when someone does not maintain hand hygiene or consumes food that has been washed with water containing Salmonella thypi bacteria.
So it is with drinks. So, make sure you always consume drinks with the optimal level of ripeness.
Typhus Risk Factors
Several factors can increase a person’s risk of developing typhus, including:
- Poor sanitation.
- Not cleaning your hands before eating, or not being clean enough when washing food.
- Consuming vegetables that use fertilizer from infected human feces.
- Consuming dairy products or dairy products that have been contaminated.
- Using a toilet that has been contaminated with bacteria.
- Having oral sex with someone who carries/is infected with Salmonella typhi bacteria.
- Excessive alcohol consumption or drug abuse can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of typhoid.
- Traveling or living in areas with high rates of typhus transmission.
- Malnutrition or low body weight can weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to typhoid.
Diagnosis of Typhus
There are several ways that doctors diagnose this disease, including:
1. Medical interview
A medical interview is a procedure to gather information about a patient’s health condition. From here, the doctor can determine a diagnosis, plan treatment, and evaluate health.
2. Physical examination
The physical exam will focus on areas that may be affected by typhus, such as the lungs. Here, the doctor will listen to breathing sounds with a stethoscope and look for abnormal breath sounds.
3. Supporting tests
After the two previous examinations, the doctor will continue by performing supporting procedures. Some of the ways are by taking samples of the patient’s blood, stool, or urine.
A sample of the fluid will be placed in an environment where bacteria can easily grow. The growth, called a culture, is examined under a microscope for the presence of typhoid bacteria.
Typhus Treatment
The most effective way to treat typhoid is by administering antibiotic therapy. In addition, there are several efforts that need to be made, such as:
1. Home care
Home treatment is possible if typhoid fever is diagnosed in its early stages. Here, the patient can take antibiotic tablets for 7 to 14 days.
Symptoms usually start to improve within 2 to 3 days of taking antibiotics. However, make sure to finish the entire course of medication to minimize resistance.
In addition to taking medication, try the following methods:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink lots of water.
- Eat regularly or eat small portions frequently.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and running water.
- Do not travel while the treatment period is still ongoing.
2. Hospital care
Treatment at a health facility is recommended if the patient experiences severe symptoms of typhoid fever. For example, persistent vomiting, severe diarrhea, or abdominal swelling.
In the hospital, patients will receive medications, fluids, and nutrients directly into their veins through an IV. This way, symptoms usually gradually decrease over 3 to 5 days.
3. Overcoming disease recurrence
Some patients may be readmitted to a health facility due to a relapse of typhoid fever, which is when symptoms return. This problem usually recurs a week after antibiotic treatment is completed.
If it occurs a second time, the symptoms are usually milder and last for a shorter time than before. However, further treatment with antibiotics is usually recommended.
4. Long-term coping
After symptoms disappear, stool samples also need to be tested for the presence of Salmonella typhi bacteria. If the bacteria are still detected in the body, the sufferer can transmit it to others through feces or urine.
The bacteria may live in a patient’s body for 12 months or more after the initial infection. At this stage, the patient is contagious, but may not feel or experience any symptoms.
The treatment steps are through consuming antibiotics for 28 days to “eliminate” the bacteria completely. Then, do a retest to make sure the bacteria are really gone.
Typhus Complications
Complications of typhoid fever can include damage and bleeding in the intestines. The disease can also cause cells in the walls of the small intestine or large intestine to die.
This allows the contents of the intestine to leak into the body. As a result, sufferers can experience severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and a body-wide infection called sepsis.
Damage to the intestines can occur in the later stages of the disease. This life-threatening complication requires immediate medical attention.
Other possible complications include:
- Myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle.
- Inflammation of the lining of the heart and heart valves, is called endocarditis.
- Infection of large blood vessels, called mycotic aneurysm.
- Pneumonia.
- Inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis.
- Kidney or bladder infection.
- Meningitis or infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
- Mental health problems, such as delirium, hallucinations, and paranoid psychosis.
Typhus Prevention
Typhoid fever is common in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. The main step in preventing this disease is through vaccination.
According to the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), typhoid immunization can be given to children over 2 years old. This vaccine needs to be repeated every 3 years.
Next, you can follow the steps below to prevent disease:
- Make sure food is properly cooked and still hot when served.
- Avoid consuming raw milk and raw milk products. Drink milk that has been pasteurized or boiled.
- Avoid consuming ice unless it is made from boiled water.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water, especially after contact with pets or livestock, or after going to the toilet.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially if you want to eat them raw.
- Avoiding contact with people who have active typhus can help prevent transmission.
- Wearing a mask helps reduce the risk of transmission through saliva droplets.
- Always cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Then, dispose of the tissue properly.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise, adequate sleep, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.