Typhoid

Typhoid is a disease caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. According to Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - child specialist in Karachi, In recent years, typhoid has become more wide spread. Many resistant strains of typhoid have emerged so that patients do not respond to simple treatments. The clinical symptoms include high grade fever going up to 102 -103 °F. The fever does not touch the normal temperature and generally stays for more than a week. The child looks sick, toxic and lethargic. The tongue is coated white and a bad odor comes from the mouth. The child does not feel like eating and feels nauseated. There may be pain in the abdomen and diarrhea may develop. As time passes vomiting may start too. If not treated in time ulcers may develop in the intestines which can be very dangerous. There may be bleeding from the ulcers leading to blood in the stools and the ulcers may burst, which is a surgical emergency resulting in urgent surgery.

The most important thing is to have early diagnosis and use proper antibiotic. Early diagnosis is possible by going to a good doctor who will do a proper clinical examination and do the relevant tests. Generally, typhoid is misdiagnosed and many wrong antibiotics are given. As a result antibiotic resistance has emerged. The patient does not respond to proper antibiotics and resistance develops leading to complications. Parents are hesitant to use intravenous antibiotics and prefer oral medicines. Sometimes the oral medicines do not work. Self medication should be avoided. Proper dosage of the drug should be used for at least 14 days. Rest is very important and light diet should be given. If proper treatment is not given and full treatment is not completed, relapse may occur. Prevention is possible through typhoid vaccination which should be given to all children.