What are the causes of Typhoid Fever?

Typhoid is an infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (S. Typhi). The bacterium lives in the intestines and bloodstream of humans. It spreads between individuals by direct contact with an infected person's feces. No animal carries this disease, so transmission is always human.

If untreated, 1 to 5 cases of typhoid can be fatal. With treatment, less than 4 in 100 cases are fatal. S. Typhi enters through the mouth and spends 1 to 3 weeks in the intestine. Subsequently, it makes its way through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream. By bleeding, it spreads to other tissues and organs. The host's immune system can do little to fight back because of s. Typhi can live within the host's cells, a safe source from the immune system. Typhoid is diagnosed by detecting the presence of S. Typhi through blood, feces, urine, or bone marrow samples. Symptoms normally begin 6 to 30 days after exposure to bacteria.

Two major symptoms of typhoid are fever and rash. Typhoid fever is particularly high, gradually increasing for several days to 104 ° F or 39 to 40 ° C. The rash, which does not affect every patient, has rose-colored spots, especially on the neck and abdomen. Other symptoms may include: Weakness Abdominal Pain Constipation Headache Rarely, symptoms may include confusion, diarrhea, and vomiting, but are not normally severe. In severe, untreated cases, the bowel may be perforated. This can lead to peritonitis, an infection of the tissue that characterizes the lines inside the abdomen, which have been reported as fatal cases between 5 and 62 percent. Another infection, paratyphoid, is caused by Salmonella enterica. Typhoid has similar symptoms, but it is less likely to be fatal.

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