In my country, there are two major illnesses that affect almost every household, one of which is malaria, which I wrote about in my previous post, and the other is typhoid, which is really a serious case over here and believe me when I say this condition has affected so many people. Typhoid fever is an infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi, typhoid is usually spread through contaminated water or food. Once there is an injection of Salmonella Typhi bacteria, they multiply and spread into the bloodstream.
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The global burden of typhoid could be increased through urbanization and climate change, there is also an increased resistance to antibiotic treatment which makes it more convenient for typhoid to spread through communities that lack access to safe drinking water. According to World Health Organization (WHO), typhoid fever will continue to affect around 11-20 million people on a yearly basis, it even causes a strong case of death as well, because it causes 128,000-161,000 yearly death case, it's such a big deal.
The vaccine for typhoid was developed in the 19th century and that was one year before the pathogen responsible for causing typhoid fever was established. This vaccine was highly essential as it created a notable effect on its incidence, particularly with highly susceptible populations.
Some historians actually believe that typhoid fever was responsible for the widespread plague that happened in Athens in 430 BC, it was highly fatal for about one-third of the population.
Salmonella Typhi, affects purely humans, people who have typhoid fever would carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and their intestinal tract. The symptoms of a person who has been infected with typhoid are; fatigue, nausea, high fever, headache, and diarrhea/constipation, sometimes there is the case of a rash and when it gets into a complex situation, it could even lead to death. The current scientific understanding of the prevention of waterborne disease treatment like typhoid is already highly established. When the typhoid case gets complicated, it would result in perforation and intestinal bleeding, this could bring on some form of serious abdominal pain, vomiting, sepsis, and nausea
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In 1838, there was an English doctor who was responsible for the treatment of typhoid outbreak, with the name William Budd, he noted the presence of what he considered as POISON, he found it in the excretion of the infected person, and it could also be transferred to healthy people through the consumption of contaminated water. After this realization, Budd then suggested to his team, the isolation of the excrement to help with the control of future outbreaks. All through the 20th century, typhoid fever declined steadily as a result of the vaccination, and the improvement in hygiene and sanitation, water chlorination also made a significant impact on the number of individuals that are affected by the disease.
In this age and time, thankfully, there is a scientific understanding of the prevention and treatment of waterborne diseases, but like what we use to have in the 1900s, the best line of action remains a multisectoral mix of horizontal and vertical interventions. Typhoid still sickens around 11-20 million people on a yearly base.
Typhoid fever is an ancient companion of humanity according to some publications too, it has in previous years, been a killer of both the rich and pauper.
Typhoid fever can be treated with antibiotics, even after some antibiotics treatment and the symptoms disappear, there could still be some lingering traits of the bacteria that could be spread to others through the bacteria that can be spread through feces. When there is a case of typhoid fever, the affected patients should;
Take prescribed antibiotics for as long as the medical expert has prescribed.
Get a test to ensure the presence of Salmonella Typhi bacteria in the body.
Wash hands appropriately with water and soap instantly after using the bathroom and even while preparing food, this will definitely reduce the chances of spreading the infection.
While typhoid seemed to have disappeared from so many high-income countries, and that is because of the presence of high vaccination, clean water, and standard hygienic living, in lower and middle-class countries unfortunately, typhoid is still very present there. Despite the fact that there is a case of scientific interest in typhoid, the control of typhoid has not attracted a particular level of funding and public attention like others.
Additional vaccination has been used for several years in children and older adults, especially with those who are at risk of contracting typhoid, most especially travelers. However, these vaccines will not provide long-lasting immunity and are usually not approved for children that are younger than 2 years old. The vaccine could be an injectable vaccine based on purified antigens for people that are two years of age and above, and it could also be in the form of oral vaccination in the form of a capsule for people over 6 years of age.
I will like to conclude this article today by stating some of the recommendations that will help ensure the safety of travelers;
Fruits and vegetables need to be carefully washed, particularly if they are consumed raw, in most possible cases, ensure that your fruits are peeled before consumption.
Make sure that you avoid raw milk and the products that come from it, it is safe to consume only pasteurized or boiled milk.
Ensure that you avoid ice and only consume ice made from safe water.
Carefully wash your hands frequently and thoroughly using soap and water, especially after contact with farm animals, the toilet, or with pets.
Only consume food that is properly cooked and served hot.
Consumption of unsafe water is highly questionable, ensure that the water you consume is highly pure and safe.
Yeah, the burden of typhoid is still high in our environment as we still regularly see the cases of typhoid in the health facilities. In addition to the individual efforts on personal hygiene, government and non governmental organisations also have a role to play in providing clean and safe drinking water for the masses especially in the rural communities. Environmental hygiene and proper refuse/sewage disposal is also very important in combating typhoid in our environment.
I agree with you brother, the government has a lot of work to do when it comes to the provision of clean water in underdeveloped or developing nations, most communities have to survive on unsafe water.
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Typhoid has been a threat in the African country, it keeps taking lives every year, like you said best thing is to get a test done then treat with the proper antibiotics.