Typhoid fever is an infectious disease caused primarily by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (often just called Salmonella Typhi).
Here’s a concise overview:
🦠 Cause
Pathogen: Salmonella Typhi
Transmission: Fecal-oral route — through consumption of contaminated food or water, or direct contact with an infected person’s stool.
⚠️ Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear 1–3 weeks after exposure and may include:
Prolonged high fever (often rising in a stepwise pattern)
Headache
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Constipation (sometimes diarrhea in children)
Weakness and fatigue
Rose spots (flat, pink spots on the chest or abdomen in some cases)
Enlarged spleen or liver
If untreated, it can lead to serious complications like intestinal perforation, bleeding, or sepsis.
🧪 Diagnosis
Blood culture (most reliable early test)
Stool or urine culture
Widal test (serologic test for antibodies — less specific)
Bone marrow culture (most sensitive, especially if antibiotics have been started)
💊 Treatment
Antibiotics such as:
Ceftriaxone
Azithromycin
Ciprofloxacin (though resistance is common in many regions)
Supportive care: rehydration, adequate nutrition, and rest.
🛡️ Prevention
Vaccination: Typhoid vaccines (injectable polysaccharide or oral live-attenuated).
Safe food and water practices:
Drink boiled or bottled water.
Eat freshly cooked food.
Wash hands thoroughly before eating.
Sanitation and hygiene improvements in communities.
