Why typhoid happens

From the bloodstream, it spreads into other tissues and organs. The immune system of the host can do little to fight back because S. Typhoid is diagnosed by detecting the presence of S. The two major symptoms of typhoid are fever and rash. Typhoid fever is particularly high, gradually increasing over several days up to degrees Fahrenheit, or 39 to 40 degrees Celsius.

The rash, which does not affect every patient, consists of rose-colored spots, particularly on the neck and abdomen. Rarely, symptoms might include confusion, diarrhea , and vomiting, but this is not normally severe.

In serious, untreated cases, the bowel can become perforated. This can lead to peritonitis, an infection of the tissue that lines the inside of the abdomen, which has been reported as fatal in between 5 and 62 percent of cases.

Another infection, paratyphoid, is caused by Salmonella enterica. It has similar symptoms to typhoid, but it is less likely to be fatal. The only effective treatment for typhoid is antibiotics.

The most commonly used are ciprofloxacin for non-pregnant adults and ceftriaxone. As with a number of other bacterial diseases, there is currently concern about the growing resistance of antibiotics to S.

This is impacting the choice of drugs available to treat typhoid. In recent years, for example, typhoid has become resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ampicillin. Ciprofloxacin, one of the key medications for typhoid, is also experiencing similar difficulties. Some studies have found Salmonella typhimurium resistance rates to be around 35 percent. Typhoid is caused by the bacteria S.

Washing fruit and vegetables can spread it, if contaminated water is used. Some people are asymptomatic carriers of typhoid, meaning that they harbor the bacteria but suffer no ill effects.

Others continue to harbor the bacteria after their symptoms have gone. Sometimes, the disease can appear again. People who test positive as carriers may not be allowed to work with children or older people until medical tests show that they are clear. Countries with less access to clean water and washing facilities typically have a higher number of typhoid cases. Vaccines are not percent effective and caution should still be exercised when eating and drinking. Typhoid fever is rare in developed countries.

It is still a serious health threat in the developing world, especially for children. Contaminated food and water or close contact with an infected person cause typhoid fever. Signs and symptoms usually include:. Most people who have typhoid fever feel better a few days after they start antibiotic treatment, but a small number of them may die of complications. Vaccines against typhoid fever are only partially effective.

Vaccines usually are reserved for those who may be exposed to the disease or who are traveling to areas where typhoid fever is common. Signs and symptoms are likely to develop gradually — often appearing one to three weeks after exposure to the disease. See a doctor immediately if you think you might have typhoid fever. If you live in the United States and become sick while traveling in a foreign country, call the U.

Consulate for a list of doctors. If you have signs and symptoms after you return home, consider seeing a doctor who focuses on international travel medicine or infectious diseases. A doctor who is familiar with these areas may be able to recognize and treat your illness more quickly.

Typhoid fever is caused by dangerous bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Salmonella typhi is related to the bacteria that cause salmonellosis, another serious intestinal infection, but they aren't the same. Most people in developed countries pick up typhoid bacteria while they're traveling. Once they have been infected, they can spread it to others through the fecal-oral route. This means that Salmonella typhi is passed in the feces and sometimes in the urine of infected people.

If you eat food that has been handled by someone who has typhoid fever and who hasn't washed carefully after using the toilet, you can become infected. In developing countries, where typhoid fever is established, most people become infected by drinking contaminated water.

The bacteria may also spread through contaminated food and through direct contact with someone who is infected. Even after antibiotic treatment, a small number of people who recover from typhoid fever continue to harbor the bacteria. In most cases, the symptoms start to go away in the third and fourth weeks, as long as the disease doesn't cause any other health problems. Sometimes, after the illness seems gone it can come back. After recovering from typhoid fever, some people become carriers of the bacteria.

This means that they'll have no symptoms, but do have the bacteria in their bodies and can pass it on to others. Typhoid in the U.

But if you plan to travel to a foreign country especially South-central and Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, or the Caribbean , it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about prevention and treatment of typhoid fever. People usually get typhoid fever by drinking beverages or eating food that has been handled by someone who has typhoid fever or is a carrier of the illness. Those infected also can pass the disease to others directly for example, by touching them with unwashed hands. People also get the illness by drinking water that is contaminated by sewage.

The doctor will evaluate the symptoms and ask you about your child's medical history and recent travels. The doctor probably will take a sample of stool poop , urine pee , or blood to test it for the disease. Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics that kill the bacteria. It's important to take the medicine for the whole time that the doctor prescribes, even if your child feels better. If you stop it too soon, some bacteria could remain. Most kids start feeling better within 2 to 3 days of beginning treatment.

Offer your child plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Kids who are severely dehydrated due to diarrhea might need to get IV intravenous fluids in a hospital or other medical care facility. Acetaminophen can help reduce fever and make your child feel more comfortable. Call a doctor immediately if your child's symptoms last, if they go away and come back, or if your child has any new symptoms. Kids with typhoid fever should stay home until the disease has run its course and a doctor makes sure that the bacteria are gone.

The same goes for teens who work in the food service industry, who may not legally be allowed to return to work until a doctor has proven them to be free of the bacteria.