Wikipedia:VideoWiki/Typhoid fever

Overview

Typhoid fever, is a bacterial illness, caused via Salmonella typhi.

Epidemiology

The disease, is most common in India.

Epidemiology - Demographic

Children, are most commonly affected.

Onset of illness

Symptoms typically begin, six to thirty days, after exposure to food or water, contaminated with the feces of an infected person.

Symptoms

Usually, there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several days; weakness, abdominal pain, constipation, headaches, and mild vomiting.

Symptoms 2

Some people, will develop a skin rash, with rose colored spots.

Severe Cases and Carriers

In severe cases, there may be confusion.

Causes

The cause, is the bacterium Salmonella Typhi, that grows in the intestines, and blood.

Spread

Typhoid, is spread by eating or drinking food, or water, contaminated with the feces of an infected person.

Risk Factor

Risk factors include, poor sanitation, and poor hygiene.

Risk Factor 2

Those who travel in the developing world, are also at risk.

Diagnosis

Because, symptoms are similar to those of many other infectious diseases, diagnosis requires, either culturing the bacteria, or detecting the bacterium's DNA in the blood, stool, or bone marrow.

Bone Marrow Testing

Culturing the bacterium can be difficult, so bone marrow testing, is the most accurate.

Prevention

Typhoid vaccines, have been shown to prevent 40 to 90% of cases, during the first two years, and may have some effect for up to seven years.

Other Efforts

Other efforts to prevent the disease include, providing clean drinking water, good sanitation, and handwashing.

Infected Persons Quarantine

Until it has been confirmed that an individual's infection is cleared, the individual, should not prepare food for others.

Treatment

The disease, is treated with antibiotics.

Resistance

Resistance to these antibiotics has been developing, which has made treatment more difficult.