Typhoid fever

Understanding
Typhoid fever is a disease that occurs due to Salmonella typhi bacterial infection. This fever generally affects patients in the age group of 5-30 years. The incubation period of bacteria can generally vary as well, ranging from 3 days to 60 days.

Until now, typhoid fever is still a health problem in many countries, especially in developing countries. In Indonesia, the incidence of typhoid fever is quite high, and it is related to inadequate sanitation and sanitation.

Diagnosis
The diagnosis of typhoid fever can generally be determined after detailed medical interviews, complete physical examination, and investigation.

Medical interviews may include a history of complaints, as well as risk factors such as a history of food consumption with poor hygiene. Physical examination may also be performed by a physician to ascertain the direction of the diagnosis.

In addition, investigations that can be performed to confirm the diagnosis are the Widal test as well as examination of IgG and IgM Salmonella typhi. Blood cultures and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) are the definitive checks of gold standard that can be done to identify bacteria.

However, both are rarely done because it takes a long time and the cost is quite high. Moreover, in general, typhoid can be diagnosed from general symptoms and other more simple examination.

Symptoms
Symptoms of typhoid fever are very wide and varied. In general, a person is suspected of typhoid fever if he has a fever of more than 7 days and does not subside with the use of febrifuge. Fever may also gradually increase daily, and if left untreated, it can last up to 3 weeks.
Other complaints accompanying fever may include:

• Weakness
• Headache
• Pain in the joints
• Pain in the muscles of the body
• The stomach feels bloated or painful
• Diarrhea or difficult bowel movements
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cough
• Seemed uneasy

If not treated properly, typhoid fever can also cause complications, either in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, heart, or nervous system. 

TreatmentIt is often said that the best treatment is prevention. To prevent contracting typhoid fever, it is advisable not to eat foods suspected to have been contaminated by flies, or whose hygiene is not guaranteed. This will reduce your risk for infected Salmonella typhi bacteria.
If a person is suspected of typhoid fever, it is advisable to go directly to a doctor. Meanwhile, if you have been diagnosed with typhoid fever, you will generally get the following treatment:

• Bed rest.
• Adequate nutrition intake for sufferers. If the patient has difficulty intake due to nausea and vomiting, additional intake may be given by intravenous fluids as recommended by physician.
• Administering antibiotics as recommended by a physician, taking into account the degree of severity of the illness as well as the individual's sensitivity to the antibiotic.
• Provision of fever-lowering drugs.
• Provision of drugs for other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, defecation, and so on, in accordance with complaints experienced by patients. 

Cause
Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi bacterial infection, and a small part can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi A, B, or C.

Typhoid fever itself can be transmitted by fecal-oral, ie from the dirt to the mouth. This can happen when the germs from the dirt are transported by the fly, which then leaves the impurities on the food that will be eaten by someone.

Therefore, environmental hygiene plays a very important role in the transmission of typhoid fever. It is also advisable not to eat foods that are suspected to be polluted or whose hygiene is questionable. 

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