The appearance of red spots on the chest and abdomen, weight loss, general malaise, headache and decreased appetite may be indicative of infection by the bacterium Salmonella typhi , responsible for typhoid fever.
Typhoid fever can be acquired through the consumption of water and food contaminated with feces or urine from people with this bacterium, so it is important to keep your hands clean and to be careful when handling and preparing food.
Main symptoms
The first symptoms of typhoid fever are mild, as the incubation period for the bacteria is 1 to 3 weeks, and may worsen after that period. The main symptoms of typhoid fever are:
- High fever; Reddish spots on the skin, especially on the chest and abdomen; Belly pain; Headache; General malaise; Gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, diarrhea or constipation; Enlarged liver and spleen; Loss of appetite and weight loss; Decreased heart rate; Belly swelling; Dry cough; Depression.
Typhoid fever can be transmitted through direct contact with the hands, secretions or vomiting of a sick person or carrier of the bacterium, and can also be acquired through the ingestion of water or food contaminated with feces or urine of people with Salmonella typhi . Learn more about typhoid fever.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of typhoid fever is made by an infectious disease physician or general practitioner based on the person's symptoms and lifestyle and hygiene. In addition, blood, feces and urine tests are carried out to identify the infection by the bacteria, as well as microbiological tests, such as co-culture and blood culture, which is performed when the patient is hospitalized, which helps to define which is the best antibiotic. to treat the disease.
Treatment for typhoid fever
Treatment for typhoid fever can be done with antibiotics, rest and fluid intake to keep the patient hydrated and, in severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
The prevention of typhoid fever can be done through vaccination, daily hygiene care, frequent garbage collection, correct food preparation, boiling or filtering the water before it is drunk and cleaning the water tank every 6 months. Find out how the treatment and prevention of typhoid is done.
