Overview
Typhoid fever, also called enteric fever, is caused by salmonella bacteria. Typhoid fever is rare in places where few people carry the bacteria. It also is rare where water is treated to kill germs and where human waste disposal is managed. One example of where typhoid fever is rare is the United States. Places with the highest number of cases or with regular outbreaks are in Africa and South Asia. It is a serious health threat, especially for children, in places where it is more common.
Food and water with the bacteria in it cause typhoid fever. Close contact with a person who is carrying the salmonella bacteria also can cause typhoid fever. Symptoms include:
• High fever.
• Headache.
• Stomach pain.
• Constipation or diarrhea.
Most people who have typhoid fever feel better about a week after they start treatment to kill bacteria, called antibiotics. But without treatment, there is a small chance of death from typhoid fever complications. Vaccines against typhoid fever can provide some protection. But they can't protect against all cases of illness caused by other strains of salmonella. Vaccines can help lower risk of getting typhoid fever.
Symptoms
Symptoms are likely to start slowly, often showing up 1 to 3 weeks after exposure to the bacteria.
Early illness
Early symptoms include:
• Fever that starts low and increases throughout the day, possibly reaching as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
• Chills.
• Headache.
• Weakness and fatigue.
• Muscle aches.
• Stomach pain.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Rash.
People also may have a cough, loss of appetite and sweating.
Later illness
A few weeks after symptoms start, the illness can cause problems in the intestines. People may have:
• Stomach pain.
• Very swollen stomach.
• An infection caused by gut bacteria spreading throughout the body, called sepsis.
In very serious cases, people may:
• Become confused.
• Not be able to pay attention to anything around them.
• Not be able to react to the world around them.
These are life-threatening complications.
In some people, symptoms may return up to a few weeks after the fever has gone away.
When to see a doctor
See a health care provider right away if you think you might have typhoid fever.
If you get sick while traveling in a foreign country, know who to call for a list of providers. For some that might be the closest embassy or consulate.
If you have symptoms after you return home, consider seeing a provider who focuses on international travel medicine or infectious diseases. This might help get typhoid fever diagnosed and treated more quickly.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
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