Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever is an acute intestinal infection characterized by a cyclical course. As a rule, the structures of the lymphatic system in the intestine are affected, which causes acute intoxication.
CAUSES OF TYPHOID FEVER
Typhoid fever is provoked by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, which is able to maintain its vital activity for several months. Certain foods are a favorable environment for its active reproduction (meat, cottage cheese, milk). These microorganisms are resistant to freezing, but they die during disinfection and boiling. The source and reservoir of typhoid fever is a sick person. The release of the pathogen into the environment begins at the last stage of the incubation period of typhoid fever.
In the event that a person is infected with a chronic form of the disease, he is a source of danger and infection for others.
Infection occurs through the water and food pathway, when using untreated water and food.
The spreaders of the disease are flies that carry microscopic particles of faeces. The disease is especially active in the summer-autumn period.
SYMPTOMS OF TYPHOID FEVER
The incubation period of this dangerous disease ranges from 3 to 35 days. The disease begins either gradually or immediately in an acute form. The gradual form is characterized by a slow increase in temperature, which reaches a maximum in about a week. With fever, intoxication begins, manifested by loss of appetite, weakness, sleep disturbance, and fatigue.
Fever can last for several days, while sharp fluctuations in temperature are recorded during the day. The most characteristic symptoms of typhoid fever are dryness and paleness of the skin. Rashes appear a week after the onset of the disease and persist for some time. Thickenings appear on the tongue, on which the internal imprints of teeth are clearly visible. A white plaque is clearly visible in the center of the tongue and along the edges.
The abdomen is greatly swollen due to intestinal paresis, there is pain in the right ilium. Patients have difficulty defecating. A week after the onset of the disease, the size of the spleen and liver sharply increases. Patients have cough and dry wheezing. With a strong fever, bradycardia, hypotension and muffling of heart tones are recorded.
At the peak of the disease, the symptoms manifest themselves most intensively, with toxic damage to the central nervous system, against the background of intoxication.
With a decrease in temperature, the condition of patients improves markedly, but after a sharp improvement, an exacerbation of the disease may occur.
Relapse of the disease, as a rule, takes place in a milder form. The temperature does not reach the maximum values.
In the abortive form of typhoid fever, the symptoms of the disease are poorly expressed.
DIAGNOSIS OF TYPHOID FEVER
Diagnostic measures are carried out on the basis of the general clinical picture. To confirm the diagnosis, bacteriological (urine and duodenal contents) and serological studies (RNGA) are carried out.
TREATMENT OF TYPHOID FEVER
Upon confirmation of the diagnosis of typhoid fever, the patient is subject to mandatory hospitalization. For the most effective and speedy recovery of the patient, he needs professional medical care.
During the fever period, the patient is assigned strict bed rest. It needs to be stored for several days after the temperature returns to normal. It is not recommended for the patient to get out of bed earlier than 10 days after the onset of the disease.
During the disease, compliance with a strict diet consisting of easily digestible, semi-liquid, high-calorie food is shown. The patient should regularly receive copious drinking, preferably hot tea.
The patient is prescribed antibacterial and fortified therapy.
