Both paratyphoid fever and typhoid fever are similar bacteria diseases. Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi bacterium while paratyphoid fever is caused by the bacterium Salmonella Paratyphi. Infected persons can transmit these diseases to other people. This usually happens when an infected person do not wash their hand s after using the bathroom.
The Salmonella bacteria can remain on the person’s hands and c everything the person touches, including drink and food will be contaminated. These Salmonella bacteria can also contaminate the water used to prepare and wash beverages and food, including tap water, in most countries with poor sanitation. Therefore, travelers who consume drink or food contaminated with these bacteria can become ill.
Paratyphoid and Typhoid fever cause similar symptoms. Carriers of these bacteria usually have a typhoid fever that can reach up to 39-40°C (103-104°F). Patients of typhoid fever may equally experience loss of appetite, stomach pain, headache, weakness, cough, and diarrhea or constipation. Some people get rose colored spots, a rash with flat. Death or internal bleeding can also occur, but this are often rare.
Who is at risk of typhoid fever?
Parts of the world with limited access to clean water and poor sanitation are very popular for Typhoid fever. Children around the world are considered to be at higher risk of contracting typhoid fever. In fact, this is usually as a result of an underdeveloped immune system (the body's natural defense against infection and disease). But more than adults, children with typhoid fever tend to have milder symptoms. Typhoid fever is common in the Africa, with several confirmed infections each year. Most of the infected cases were as a result of traveling to regions with poor sanitation and no clean water. Also you’re at risk if you visit South America, Asia or Africa.
What is long-term carrier typhus?
Long-term carriers continue to transmit typhus even after recovery. They can spread typhus for a year or even more without any symptoms. To make sure you can't pass typhoid on to other people, it's important to get tested for Salmonella Typhi once you're feeling better.
What is the difference between typhus and typhoid?
Typhoid and typhoid fever are different diseases, lthough their names sound the same. They are both caused by different bacteria. The symptoms of both diseases are so similar that health care providers think it is the same disease. We now know they have similar names have but are separate diseases.
What are the stages of typhoid fever?
Four stages are involved in developing symptoms for typhoid fever. Early antibiotics treatment can prevent later stages progression.
Stage 1 of typhoid fever:
Symptoms of typhoid fever can appear 5 to 14 days after exposure to Salmonella Typhi. The initial symptom is a fever that rises for a few days; it is called "stepwise" because it goes up gradually. The typhoid bacteria moves into your blood stream at this stage.
Stage 2 of typhoid fever:
The typhoid bacteria in Peyer's patch is multiplying (the part of the immune system that identifies harmful invaders) around the second week of a fever. You will have stomach pain and other stomach symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation. You may have small pink spots on your skin called "pink freckles," that look like a rash.
Stage 3 of typhoid fever:
The bacteria can cause serious damage if you are not treated with antibiotics, usually around the third week after the onset of symptoms. Some people experience serious complications, such as encephalitis (brain inflammation) and internal bleeding.
Stage 4 of typhoid fever:
Most people start to recover at fourth stage. Also the high fever starts to drop. Salmonella typhi can live without causing symptoms in your gallbladder, which entails you can still pass it on even when you feel better.
Symptoms of typhoid fever
Symptoms and Signs of typhoid fever tend to develop step by step, often appearing from around the first to third weeks after you get exposed to the typhoid disease.
The early disease
The symptoms and signs of typhoid fever are:
- The fever, which begins low but rises every day, can reach 40.5 C (104.9 degrees F).
- Headache
- Fatigue and weakness
- Muscular cramp
- Sweat
- Dry cough
- Weight loss and appetite loss
- Stomach ache
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Rash
- Very swollen belly
The later sickness
Without typhoid treatment you can:
- Go mad.
- Lying exhausted and motionless with narrowed eyes in a condition called typhus.
At this point, complications that can be life-threatening often develop. In many people, symptoms and signs may return 2 weeks right after the typhoid fever is gone.
The spread of typhoid fever
Contaminated food or water with Salmonella Typhi is usually the primary means through which Typhoid fever transmitted. If someone with typhoid fever touches something you drink or eat without washing their hands you get infected. You may also get infected when feces (water with urine or feces) gets into the food you eat or the water you drink.
You can catch typhus from other people if after using the bathroom, they do not wash their hands. If they touch objects (like doorknobs or phones) and surfaces, they may leave bacteria behind that can be passed on to other people who touch it.
Diagnosis of typhoid fever
A health care provider usually diagnoses typhus using a person's specific history to differentiate it from paratyphoid, an infection that is caused by S. enterica. This infection is less likely to be fatal but has symptoms similar to typhus. A health care provider will ask a person if they have lived in or traveled to an area known to have outbreaks or where the disease is endemic.
They also want to know if they’ve taken any medications, if the person has received the proper vaccinations, and where and how she lives. The doctor may equally ask if the person has been in contact with unclean water or food.
Treatment of typhoid disease
Antibiotics can be used to treat Typhoid fever. As antibiotics resistance has become popular, including resistance to fluoroquinolones, newer antibiotics such as azithromycin and cephalosporins are being used in most affected areas. Though not common yet, there’s been some cases of resistance to azithromycin. Patients can still carry the typhoid bacteria, even if the symptoms go away, which means they can pass it on to other people through their stool.
It is essential that people being treated for typhoid fever do the following:
- Take the prescribed antibiotics for as long as your health care provider tells you.
- After using the bathroom, wash your hands with water and soap, and do not serve or prepare food to others. This reduces the chance of transmitting the infection to other people.
- Get tested with your health care provider to make sure there are no Salmonella Typhi bacteria left in your body.
Prevention of typhoid fever
There are higher numberof typhoid cases in countries with less access to washing facilities and clean water. Sometimes a health care provider may pre-treat someone with antibiotics if aware the person is in an area where the disease is endemic. They often prescribe alongside azithromycin; cefixime (Suprax) or ceftriaxone (Rocephin).
Vaccines for the prevention of typhoid fever
There’re two vaccines against typhoid fever. You need to get extra doses to stay protected since they don't last forever. Typhoid vaccines greatly reduce your risk, but they do not guarantee that you will not get typhus. Although this has not been proven, vaccines may offer some protection against paratyphoid fever.
Oral typhoid vaccine:
Four pills that are taken every two days constitute the oral vaccine against typhoid fever.
Injectable typhoid vaccine (shot):
A single shot constitute the injectable typhoid vaccine. To give your body time to develop defenses (make antibodies), you should get it at least two weeks before you arrive in an area where typhus is common. The typhoid vaccine can be given to children older than 2 years. To stay protected, you must receive a booster shot every two years.
What can travelers do to prevent typhoid fever?
The areas with the highest typhus rates are:
South America
Africa
Southeast and South Asia
Indian subcontinent
When traveling to a risk area, it is important to get vaccinated against typhoid fever as some strains of typhoid bacteria become antibiotics resistant. If you intend to live or work closely with the local population then vaccination is especially important.
However, it is also important to take some precautions when traveling since none of the vaccines offer 100% protection. For example, avoid foods that could potentially be contaminated and you should only drink boiled or bottled water.
Complications with typhoid fever
People with severe typhoid fever may experience profuse abdominal bloating, vomiting and diarrhea. This usually requires immediate hospitalization.
The following complications may also be experienced:
- Gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding.
- Intestinal perforation that can result to peritonitis. This occurs in around 8-39% of people.
- Septicemia.
- Pulmonary complications such as bronchopleural fistula, empyema, or abscess.
- Typhoid encephalopathy, which has a 55% mortality rate.
- Meningitis.
- Neurological symptoms, such as muscle rigidity and psychosis.
- Pericarditis or myocarditis.
Bottom line:
The bacterium Salmonella typhi causes Typhoid fever. High fever, vomiting and diarrhea are the main symptoms. Serious complications can occur in some cases. Up to 30% of typhoid fever cases are fatal without treatment. Without complications and with antibiotic treatment, the fetal rate of typhoid fever is 1–4%.
