This serious disease in adult or child is caused by another bacterium – Salmonella typhus’s.
Signs and Symptoms
The most obvious sign of typhoid is a low grade fever lasting more than five days. Headache and the general condition of malaise are also indicative of typhoid. While the child feels increasingly ill, diarrhea may manifest itself; slow pulse; abdominal discomfort; delirium etc.
Gradually, the fever will rise to alarming heights, and the child will appear toxic, with a brown and furred tongue. There will be pronounced loss of appetite and dehydration.
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Causes
The bacterium causing typhoid is spread through contaminated food and water, milk with sewage. Its incubation period is ten to fourteen days.
Pathology
(a) Enlargement of spleen.
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(b) Inflammation of gall bladder.
(c) Acute Myocarditis.
(d) Inflammation and abscesses of the bones.
Complications
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(a) Intestinal Hemorrhage.
(b) Intestinal Perforation.
(c) Meteorism.
(d) Acute Myocarditis.
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(e) Bronchopneumonia.
(f) Acute Cholecystitis.
(g) Thrombophlebitis.
Treatment
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(a) Isolation Procedures.
(b) General Nursing.
(c) Diet: Diluted milk, eggs beaten in milk, fluids, rusks, butter, etc.
(d) Specific Treatment: –
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Chloramphenicol is an effective drug; it reduces the toxaemia and helps temperature to fall to normal in three to four days.