typhus

Typhoid Definition

Typhoid fever is a reportable infectious disease caused by bacteria that causes high fever and severe diarrhea. The name typhus comes from the Greek (typhos = haze, fog) and describes the typical foggy-confused state of consciousness that stands out in the course of the disease. While the disease is a serious problem in lower-level countries, it plays a very minor role in Central Europe. After traveling abroad, however, typhus should be immediately considered in the described symptoms. Active vaccination is designed to give travelers 90% protection in high-risk countries.

Contents:
typhus
Synonyms
root cause
symptoms
complications
Therapy for typhoid fever
Treatment ban for non-medical practitioners
paratyphoid

Synonyms

Typhoid abdominalis; typhoid fever.

root cause

The cause of typhus is the typhoid fever, the bacterium Salmonella typhi, which is transmitted not only by acutely ill people through the stool, but also often by "chronic" long time after disappearance of the symptoms. The germs can thus spread in countries with low standards of hygiene on the drinking water, but can also be transmitted by shaking hands.

symptoms

Typhus agents form ulcers in the intestinal wall, from where they can reach all organs via the bloodstream. About 14 days after ingestion of the bacteria, flu-like symptoms with limited general condition and body aches appear. Main symptoms are still high fever (up to 40 ° C) and strong, z.T. bloody diarrhea with abdominal pain. At times there is a rash with reddish spots on the abdominal skin.

complications

Complications can occur in the form of cardiovascular disorders, kidney failure or breakthrough of the intestinal ulcer into the abdominal cavity (with peritonitis). Sometimes it comes to meningitis, inflammation of the bone marrow (osteomyelitis) or life-threatening salmonella sepsis.

Therapy for typhoid fever

The diagnosis is made by pathogens in the blood, stool or urine. Because of the serious complications, a hospitalization makes sense. The patients are isolated, the laundry and excretions are constantly disinfected. Therapy takes place with antibiotics. Permanent excretors are only valid after ten exciter-free stool samples as free of salmonella.

Treatment ban for non-medical practitioners

According to the Infection Protection Act §§ 34 there is a treatment ban for non-medical practitioners for typhoid fever. However, to be able to take relief measures until a doctor takes over treatment, alternative practitioners are trained to recognize the disease.

paratyphoid

Almost with the same, but weakened symptoms is the paratyphoid. This disease is transmitted by the bacteria Salmonella paratyphi A, B and C. (Dipl.Päd. Jeanette Viñals Stein, non-medical practitioner)