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Typhoid fever, also known as typhus, is an infectious systemic disease caused by gram-negative Salmonella typhi. They are transmitted by insects and even appear in polluted water from natural reservoirs. Unfortunately, you can also poison them by eating contaminated products of animal origin. Is typhus dangerous and how can you protect yourself against it?
Typhus – a disease that can be prevented from being vaccinated
In Poland, vaccination against typhus is not obligatory, because in our country this disease is extremely rare, and even in 1971 it was removed from the list of quarantined diseases. Nevertheless, there are still cases of the disease, mainly in people who travel to Asia, Africa or South America. The vaccine is administered to people who plan to travel to areas at risk of developing typhus or to countries with poor sanitary and epidemiological conditions.
In addition to vaccination against typhus, it is very important to maintain personal hygiene, because typhus is a disease that most often spreads in countries where there is no access to fresh and clean water, and therefore there is no possibility of adhering to high personal hygiene. Frequent hand washing, proper securing of garbage or decontamination of door handles and personal belongings are enough to prevent typhus epidemics.
Typhus – symptoms of typhoid fever
Typhus has four symptom periods. In the initial phase, i.e. 10 to 14 days, we have a hatching period. At that time, the symptoms of typhus are similar to those of a cold or flu, because the patient has a malaise, general distress, low-grade fever with a headache, and may even lose his appetite. The next phase of the disease is the period of worsening symptoms, followed by fever. The temperature gradually rises over 3-7 days, up to 40 degrees Celsius. There may also be headaches, muscle aches, and nosebleeds. A characteristic symptom of typhus at this stage of the disease is brown coating on the tongues. Also, a bloated abdomen and low blood pressure may indicate typhus. In the next 5-6 days, the temperature remains and the disease develops fully. In the second week, the patient may notice typhoid rubella, a rash on the abdomen and chest. After the appearance of the rash, the patient begins to recover.
How is typhus treated?
Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics, fluoroquinolones – e.g. ciprofloxacin. In addition, electrolytes and body water need to be replenished. Many people are also given drugs that support the circulatory system.
Spotted typhus – a special type of typhus
Typhus, also known as typhus, is a rash disease, complications of which can even lead to death. It is a contagious zoonotic disease. In Europe, the carrier is a human louse, which can cause mass illness. Rat spotted typhus can be induced locally and is transmitted, as the name suggests, by parasites feeding on rats and mice.
A rash is a characteristic symptom of spotted typhus. Other symptoms include chills, high fever (up to 40 degrees Celsius), photophobia, cough, and pain in joints and muscles. Unfortunately, this disease hatch between days 10 and 14, and the infection itself lasts for several weeks. The onset of spotted typhus may be mistaken for influenza, but it is the characteristic rash that confirms that the patient has contracted typhus.