All About Typhoid Fever

What it is Typhoid Fever?

Welcome to Daily health check with Dr Gabby. We begin a new topic today, one that has given me a lot of concern in my medical practice due to the high level of ignorance and assumptions about the condition. Many times I see patients and before saying anything they tell me they have Typhoid or Typhoid and Malaria.

Just like that!

Some say their urine is coloured so they have Typhoid Fever.

How common is Typhoid Fever? What are the real causes? What are the real symptoms? Is it really something to be afraid of?

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection, Bacteria are very tiny organisms you cannot see which have the potential of causing different illnesses. It is a disease that affects the body’s system, what this means is it has potential of affecting the whole body. It is a potentially fatal infection. Yes, it can lead to death within a month if not well managed.

Why is Typhoid Fever common?

It is more common in developing countries like Nigeria as the organism thrives in overcrowded places where sanitation is poor and people live without any order. Why is this? You may ask,

How is Typhoid Fever Transmitted?

The organism is transmitted through the following means:

1. When you take in food or drinks that have been handled by a carrier of the organism, this carrier may spread the organism through his or her stool or sometimes urine.

2. .Another way is when you use a contaminated toilet and forget to wash your hands

3. A third way is when you drink water that has been contaminated by sewage. If you do any of the above, you are putting yourself at risk.

Who is at risk of Typhoid Fever?

Some people are more prone to being infected with this organism. One is people that buy food from street vendors for example those people that hawk cooked food. This is particularly risky as such vendors may be chronic carriers of the organism and the foods they hawk are ideal places for the organism to thrive.

Another set of people at risk are travellers and new settlers in cities. These people will have little or no immunity to the organism.

What is your source of food and water?

Do you patronise street vendors?

Are you at risk of typhoid fever?

Join me tomorrow as we talk about the symptoms and signs of typhoid fever .