General Information About Typhoid Fever
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a severe systemic infection and febrile illness caused by the localization of the dangerous bacterium Salmonella typhi in the intestines, bloodstream, lymph nodes, and spleen/liver, affecting the entire body.
Similar to cholera, it is transmitted via the fecal-oral route through the mixing of sewage with drinking water, consumption of raw vegetables washed with contaminated water, and foods prepared in unhygienic environments.
In some individuals who recover from the disease, this bacterium persists in the gallbladder for a lifetime. The individual remains asymptomatic but can continuously spread the pathogen through their feces, potentially infecting thousands of people (especially in professions like cooking).
The most typical symptoms include persistent fever (rising in a stepwise pattern) remaining at 39-40°C for weeks, confusion, severe headache, abdominal pain, constipation (or diarrhea), and small pale pink rashes (rose spots) on the trunk.
The bacterium colonizes and necrotizes the lymphoid tissues (Peyer's patches) in the wall of the small intestine. If left untreated, these ulcerative lesions can completely perforate the bowel by the third week, causing fecal leakage into the abdominal cavity and leading to fatal peritonitis.
Diagnosis is established by isolating Salmonella bacteria from blood, stool, or bone marrow cultures, depending on the stage of the disease, and supported by the Widal agglutination test in the blood. Definitive treatment involves hospitalization and the administration of intravenous antibiotics from the Ciprofloxacin or Cephalosporin groups.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
