This is a very severe infectious human disease and it is caused by the bacterium called salmonella typhi which enters the body (enters the lymph system through the intestine and pass through the blood) in water or food which has been contaminated with the faeces or urine of typhoid victims or carriers.
Before the early 20th century, typhoid fever was a major problem that occurred in large epidemics everywhere. Today, the story has changed because one of the major factors behind it- SANITATION has been improved to a standard except in areas where environmental hazards are still subjects of discussion.
Incubation Period
The incubation period is the time interval between the infection by the bacteria and the manifestations if the symptoms of the ailment. The incubation period varies according to the number of microbes that infects the victim. It could also vary with physical conditions of the body (how well the person eats, how sound he is, his/her level of immunity) or pathogenicity.
The incubation period can be prolonged if the person is vaccinated. It is very important that the length of the incubation is known so that a medical practitioner could determine the source of the infection and possibly diagnose it.
The incubation period from the time of exposure to the time of the manifestation of the illness is usually between 10-14 days. The early symptoms include: headache, tiredness, body pains, fever, restlessness, insomnia, lack of appetite, cough, nose bleeds, diarrhoea, and constipation.
After about four days of the disease; headache, weakness and apathy become intensified. The face and skin in general becomes very pale/dry. A covering of gray fur is noticed on the tongue. There is also intoxication.
During the second week, rose-coloured spots appear on the abdomen and sometimes on other parts of the body. The spots (also called roseolas) measure up to 2-3 mm in diameter.
At the end of the 3rd week, illness becomes intensified. The symptoms at this stage include intestinal hemorrhage, perforation of an intestinal ulcer, inflammation of lungs, acute inflammation of the gall bladder, heart failure, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, encephalitis, meningitis, bronchitis and thrombophlebitis. The disease lasts for 3-6 weeks.
Causes
Most occurrences of the infection has been found to be as a result of pollution of public water supply, contamination of food and milk by contact surfaces, individuals, flies or polluted water used for cleaning purposes.
Prevention
The prevention is obtained by treating sewage, keeping and maintaining a high level of environmental sanitation, filtration and chlorination of water, proper sanitation in food and drinks industries, maintenance of person al hygiene (washing of hands frequently), isolation of patients, detection of bacteria carriers(e.g. containers, machines) in the industries and their elimination, isolation of flies.
Diagnosis
WIDAL REACTION
This is an agglutination reaction test. It was first introduced by the French physician, F.Widal (1862-1929) in the year 1896. The reaction is based on the fact that antibodies which may have been generated by the body to fight against the typhoid fever and even clump them together. This normally occurs when the antibodies (agglutinins) have stayed long after the illness. Agglutination is hastened by introducing a culture of the causative agent which is added to the human serum. This reaction is done several times in diagnosing typhoid fever.
Treatment
By hospitalizing the patient, by vaccination, by giving antibiotics, the patient can be cured of typhoid fever.
