Contents
General description of the disease
This is a group of infectious diseases that are accompanied by mental disorders due to high intoxication of the body and a feverish state. In ancient times typhus was called “rotten or nervous fever».
Classification, causes and main signs of typhoid
There are three main types of typhoid – typhoid, typhus, recurrent.
Typhoid fever – an infectious disease caused by Salmonella bacteria. Unlike the first two types of typhoid, infection does not occur through insects. In this case, bacteria enter the body through the fecal-oral route, less often through food.
The incubation period lasts about two weeks. From infection to recovery, the patient passes 4 periods.
The first period – initial, the duration of which ranges from 3-7 days. During this period, the patient shows all signs of intoxication: the temperature rises, the skin becomes very pale, the patient feels constant weakness, headaches, decreases appetite, a white bloom appears on the tongue, there may be an upset stomach (both diarrhea and constipation), torments flatulence.
The height of the disease – second period, during which the high temperature stays at one level and does not subside, the signs of intoxication only acquire more and more strength, and the patient becomes inhibited, harsh in relation to the people around him. On pale skin, subtle small pink dots appear that almost do not rise above the skin. These points disappear with the slightest pressure on the skin. They can be found on the upper abdomen, sides, lower chest, flexion-extensor areas of the limbs. In this case, heart sounds are disturbed, the plaque on the tongue becomes brown and spreads to the edge of the teeth. Patients have bloating, enlargement of the spleen and liver.
The third stage – permission period. It is at this stage that an improvement in the patient’s well-being is observed: the temperature drops, appetite appears, weakness gradually disappears, the patient begins to sleep normally.
The fourth period – recovery. During this period, a recurrence of the disease may begin. The first signs of relapse, when the temperature is normalized, are an enlarged spleen and liver, poor appetite, and malaise. Relapse is characterized by all of the above symptoms, only the course of a second attack is much easier and shorter.
Typhoid fever can be mild, moderate, or severe. Also, typhoid fever can occur in an atypical and erased form. This is due to the use of antibiotics by mankind and the implementation of preventive measures. Therefore, in our time, fever can be only a week, and the initial period is completely absent.
Typhoid fever – an infectious disease caused by rickettsia. A person becomes infected with typhus through an insect bite. The main carrier of typhus is considered to be body louse (popularly known as body louse). Head lice can also carry rickettsia, but there are many times fewer such cases.
Transfer method – from a sick person to a healthy person through lice, scratching and even through a blood transfusion (if blood was taken in the last few days before the end of the incubation period of the disease). A sick person is dangerous to society as long as his body temperature does not return to normal and until the fever passes. Surprisingly, the tick is the vector of rickettsia in North America.
In turn, typhus is:
- epidemic (classic) – caused by Provachek’s rickettsia, known in different nations as ship (or prison) fever, European typhus;
- endemic – known as rat or American, transmitted through human bites by rat fleas, the course of the disease is easier than in epidemic, common among countries with warm climates, the largest number of cases in rural areas.
By itself, a bite from an infected louse does not provoke typhoid. Infection begins after the bite victim begins to scratch the area. Through an abrasion, secretions from the intestines of an insect, which contain a large number of rickettsia, enter the bloodstream. The incubation period is 10 to 14 days. The disease manifests itself sharply. The patient begins to shiver, fever, the head and back begin to hurt strongly and for a long time. After several days, a rash in the form of spots of bright pink color begins to appear on the skin in the abdomen. The patient ceases to navigate in time, space, his consciousness is cloudy, inhibited, speech is fast, but incomprehensible, the victim may fall into a coma. Body temperature is constantly kept at around 40 degrees. According to statistics, in the presence of epidemics, about half of those infected do not survive.
Relapsing fever – a group of infectious diseases that cause spirochetes. The method of infection with relapsing epidemic typhus is combed wounds into which the hemolymph of the body louse gets. Ticks carry endemic relapsing fever.
For lousy type of relapsing fever is inherent in 1-2 recurring attacks, after the transfer of which complete recovery occurs and immunity is developed for a while.
For tick-borne type of relapsing fever is characterized by 4 or more recurrent febrile attacks. They proceed softer and shorter in time than with lousy typhus. But the second attack can be the strongest and most devastating.
The onset of the first attack in both types is sudden. First, a chill appears (it does not last long), then the patient is thrown into a fever, severe headaches begin, gag reflexes and nausea occur, all joints and muscles hurt (especially pronounced pain in the calf muscles). The body temperature rises quickly, the pulse is rapid, but the skin remains dry. After a while, the patient begins to have nervous disorders, hallucinations, rashes of various shapes appear, the liver and spleen increase in size. In some cases, jaundice, pneumonia, or bronchitis occurs. The first attack lasts about 6 days, then the temperature drops sharply and the patient feels well. But, after 5-8 days, a second attack begins. It is characterized by all of the above symptoms. Repeated seizures occur constantly, in practice there are practically no cases without seizure repetitions.
Useful foods for typhoid
In general, nutrition for typhoid is aimed at increasing the patient’s immune system and at removing the intoxication of the body.
For detoxification, the patient needs to drink a large amount of liquid, the food should be viscous, mushy and nutritious, but not burden the body (so that the strength goes not to food processing, but to recovery).
Diet # 13 should be followed. Shown for use are meat broths, vegetarian soups from cereals, soufflés of meat and fish, boiled fish, omelet, steamed cutlets, boiled and soft-boiled eggs, boiled vegetables and mashed potatoes from them, rice, semolina puddings, butter (this there must be butter, not a spread and not a vegetable mixture), sour milk products (kefir, grated cottage cheese, sour cream and milk), homemade jelly and jelly from fruits and berries, compotes, juices, tea, cocoa, rosehip broth, wheat rusks.
In case of extremely severe health of the patient, in the first 2 days, it is necessary to feed only with liquid food (you can feed with weak meat broths, juices, broths, compotes, slimy cereals).
In the presence of intestinal bleeding, in the first days after its determination, the patient needs to drink cold drinks in small sips (milk, decoctions, compotes are allowed). You need to consume 0,5-0,6 liters of liquid per day. Then you can switch to slimy cereals, jelly. On the 4th day, the patient can be fed with steamed vegetables, soft-boiled eggs and liquid cereals. After the expiration of the week, it can be transferred to the food of the diet table number 13.
If the victim suffers from diarrhea, then dairy products should be removed from the diet for a while.
During the recovery period (on the 6th day without fever and fever), the patient must be gradually transferred to a normal diet. Slowly, you can introduce boiled meat, bread.
Traditional medicine for typhoid
To avoid contracting typhoid, you need to follow a few simple guidelines:
- Chew the raw dried calamus root. Even in ancient times, during epidemics, our ancestors chewed it. This is due to the amazing properties of calamus. It has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.
- Eat and carry a head of garlic regularly.
- Add milk (especially cow), mushrooms, kefir, cottage cheese, juices from berries, vegetables and fruits, black currant and rosehip decoction to your diet, drink coffee with lemon.
If the disease could not be avoided, then you should adhere to the correct diet and take the following decoctions and infusions:
- an infusion of St. John’s wort (you need to drink ½ glass of broth 30 minutes before a meal);
- collection from chamomile, sage and centaury (a teaspoon of collection is required for 200 milliliters of water), it is required to take a tablespoon of infusion every 2 hours (the number of doses should be up to eight times).
If you have problems with sleep, it is recommended to give a decoction from a sprig of valerian.
With typhus, the most effective treatment is considered to be the intake of decoctions from oats and barley.
Propolis is considered a natural antibiotic. It can be chewed like ordinary chewing gum (10 grams an hour before a meal or an hour after a meal), you can drink a teaspoon of tincture (prepared with 70% alcohol, it must be washed down with a glass of tea or milk).
Also, in the treatment of typhoid, infusions of Amur velvet, adonis, hogweed, cocklebur, medicinal angelica, calendula, plantain, basil, young willow bark, buds and aspen bark are used.
It is necessary to pay attention to the patient’s back. From prolonged lying, he may develop ulcers, bedsores, or congestion in the lungs. To avoid this, you need to periodically turn the patient on his side. Also, watch out for his hygiene.
For the entire period of treatment, the patient needs peace and quiet, there should be a dim light in the room (this way the patient is less irritated and there is no load on the eyesight). In order not to lose or reduce vision, the patient should not be allowed to read for at least the first six weeks. Otherwise, vision can deteriorate for the rest of your life.
It is recommended to shave the hair on the patient’s head in the initial stages of the disease. This will help prevent their massive loss. This is done so that the roots do not burn out from the strong and constant heat.
Dangerous and harmful foods for typhoid
- products containing coarse vegetable fiber (radish, radish, cabbage, sweet potato);
- spices, herbs, seasonings (especially hot);
- all fatty, smoked, spicy foods;
- canned food, sausages;
- fatty meat and fish;
- legumes;
- dough and baked goods;
- margarine, spreads, herbal mixtures;
- fast food, semi-finished products, fast food;
- alcoholic beverages;
- soda (especially sweet).
This list of products must be completely and unconditionally excluded from the patient’s diet.
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!