Typhoid is an infectious disease caused by the Salmonella typhi bacterium. It can be fatal if not treated. The World Health Organization recorded approximately 21 million cases of typhoid fever, with around 150,000 deaths worldwide. With such a huge number, officials are worried about how to treat the disease so it doesn’t spread worldwide as the coronavirus did in 2020.
However, to form a proper treatment plan, it is crucial that people first know the symptoms of typhoid fever and get the diagnosis done at the right time. Since it can become fatal if not treated, knowing about the precautionary steps will also help a lot, as prevention is better than cure. This article will discuss the
typhoid diet, precautions, and symptoms.
What are the common symptoms of typhoid fever?
If you know more about the symptoms of typhoid fever, you can figure out if you have it. Even though the symptoms might differ from one person to another, there are some common ones. To help you understand this in-depth, we have discussed some significant symptoms you should look for.
- As the name suggests, the primary symptom of typhoid fever is elevated body temperature. People usually have a body temperature between 103 degrees and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Weakness is also a common symptom because the body starts losing water through diarrhoea, and water intake is almost minimal. Therefore, you might feel weak and tired because of dehydration and lack of proper nutrition.
- As you suffer from a fever, headache, and burning sensation in the eyes are common.
- Cold and cough are also common for people suffering from typhoid fever, mainly if the infection has spread to the lower respiratory tract affecting the bronchioles and the lungs.
- Due to the infection spreading in the body, there will be a significant loss in appetite.
- Since typhoid is usually caused due to poisoning through Salmonella bacteria, you might have an excessive stomach ache from the beginning, especially if we consider people having digestive problems.
- Although not common, some people might develop skin rashes and allergies with glaring red marks throughout the body due to typhoid fever.
Can typhoid fever be prevented?
Yes, it is possible to prevent typhoid fever. But people need to know how dangerous it is so that they can be careful and avoid getting sick from food poisoning caused by Salmonella. If the right steps are taken, the number of people who die from typhoid fever will go down significantly. You must take many precautions, like eating the right typhoid diet and staying in quarantine as prescribed by the doctor.
What are the precautionary measures to prevent typhoid fever?
Typhoid can spread quickly if it is not controlled, so it is very important to learn more about how to stay safe. Due to this, we have discussed some of the significant measures you can take to prevent typhoid.
- You must follow a proper typhoid diet that should include warm watery food. For example, fresh vegetable and fruit juices, warm soups, and so on are best for people suffering from typhoid. Apart from this, it would help if you also were very careful about your overall diet, the timings of the meals, and the quantity. Since your appetite will be low and the digestive system won’t function properly, try to have light food as much as possible and avoid butter and spices.
- Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene is extremely important for people suffering from typhoid. Wash your hands before and after eating and separate the toiletries and personal items. You should prevent the spreading of the disease, which usually happens when someone else uses your personal belongings.
- Always boil food and wash fruits properly before you eat them. The primary agent of typhoid is salmonella bacteria which poisons the digestive system, causing the infection. That is why maintaining hygiene while cooking is imperative.
- Also, you should keep your water containers and water purifiers clean so that no bacteria or protozoa can thrive in water. When you are infected with typhoid, your body’s immunity response is low, so you will be vulnerable to any other infection.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve talked about the ways to spot typhoid fever and the suitable diet and other precautions, it’s time to be more careful. Typhoid can be treated, but the disease must be diagnosed and treated on time to prevent fatalities. The infection rate of Salmonella typhi is relatively high, which means it transmits from one person to another faster and can become endemic if not controlled on time.
