Typhoid fever is an epidemic particularly in big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai or Ranchi. Each year, thousands of individuals, including children who play in rain and hard-working people, are infected with the bacteria Salmonella Typhi.
But don't worry, timely treatment can knock it out quickly. As someone who's seen how this affects Indian households, I'm here to break it down simply: what typhoid is, its symptoms, and most importantly, the best treatments available right here in India. Remember, this is general advice, always consult your local doctor for personalized care.
Typhoid, which is referred to as Widal locally, is transmitted by contaminated water and food, including street food or untreated water in road taps. It is prevalent in India where it is caused by poor sanitation and the damp monsoon climate that means that there are over 4million cases annually according to health experts.
It is more than just a fever. When unattended, it may lead to severe complications such as an intestinal hole. The positive side is that it is treatable and awareness is making us combat it in a better manner.
The fever arrives unannounced, as a surprise visitor to a family party. Symptoms early on are: high fever, which develops slowly with reaches 103-104 degrees F and may take 3-4 weeks without treatment; headache, weakness, stomach pain which feels like bad indigestion; lack of appetite, constipation or diarrhea and occasionally a pink rash on the chest.
In extreme situations, disorientation or delirium may set in and it is of particular concern to children and the elderly. If your family member has been to a typhoid-prone area or eaten out recently, don't wait for the fever to spike. A simple blood test can confirm it.
Symptoms and a medical history are the beginning of diagnosis. A blood culture is the most appropriate test and it identifies the bacteria early. Widal test is also available, fast, and inexpensive, but may produce a false positive.
Therefore, physicians usually include additional tests including stool or urine cultures. These tests can be obtained in a short period, usually in a matter of hours, in government or private hospitals, such as those in Jharkhand.
Antibiotics are the primary form of treatment of typhoid. They destroy the bacteria and shorten the sickness to weeks and days. In India, there are older drugs which are no longer effective since the bacterium is now resistant. The best thing to use is determined by the location of residence and the intensity of the bacteria.
The key options are as follows in accordance with the WHO and Indian health regulations:
Azithromycin: This medication has become the most prevalent one, particularly in such areas where resistance is high as in North India. The infection is cured in a 5-7 day course with minimal side effects. It is available in tablet form, is cheap, and is sold in any pharmacy.
Ciprofloxacin or Ofloxacin: These are the fluoroquinolone medications that were previously in use a long time ago, yet the resistance is very high (a high of 80 percent in some locations). They are not abandoned even when sensitivity tests indicate they are effective. The 710 days course assists simple cases.
Ceftriaxone (IV Injection): This drug is frequently administered to patients in the hospital due to a high fever or dehydration. It is a third generation cephalosporin, which is administered on a daily basis of 10-14 days. It has high resistance to resistant strains; it is common in hospitals such as AIIMS or local multispecialty centres. Approximately it costs 500-1000 rupees per dose, although it may be provided to many families though health schemes such as Ayushman Bharat.
We can wait till the doctor comes using old tricks to relieve symptoms:
Hydration First: Boil or use RO filters- typhoid prefers dirty water. Prepare homemade ORS (1 tsp salt + 6 tsp sugar in 1 l of water) to prevent dehydration.
Light Diet: Steamed vegetables, dalia and bananas soothe the stomach. Avoid oily street food.
Rest and Isolation: Separate the patient to prevent infection by keeping him or her apart.
Keep in mind that the home fixes do not cure; antibiotics are needed. It is better to prevent than to cure, this is what our grandparents say. Take the 2-3 year long typhoid vaccine. Wash hands with soap, consume home-cooked food, and ice drinks. In schools and offices, there is a 50-percent decrease in cases when awareness drives are used to vaccinate people.
In India, typhoid fever is severe, yet it can be treated successfully with the help of antibiotics and proper hydration and rest. It is important to have it early and not to disregard the chronic fever.
In the region, or somewhere close to Ranchi, there are hospitals such as Vardaan Hospital that provide quality treatment for typhoid. Call the doctor today, be safe and we will have our homes typhoid free.
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