Typhus is a disease that is transmitted by bacteria called Salmonella typhi. In order not to cause complications, recognize the symptoms of mild to severe typhoid.
Once infected, a person will show symptoms of typhus within a few days. If not treated properly, this disease risks serious complications, even death. Then, what are the symptoms of mild to severe typhoid? Here’s more information.
Symptoms of Mild to Severe Typhus that Need to Watch Out for
Salmonella typhi can enter the body after consuming food or drink contaminated with these bacteria. Initially, it enters the digestive tract, then spreads to the bloodstream and other organs, such as bones, kidneys and lungs. When a person is infected with the bacteria that causes typhus, the symptoms do not appear immediately, but gradually. The initial symptoms of typhus appear within one to two weeks after infection. The following are symptoms of mild typhus in the early stages:
- Stomach ache.
- Feeling unwell.
- Fever.
If the symptoms are classified as severe, the following are some of the symptoms that can appear:
- Headache.
- High fever, namely 40 degrees Celsius, which lasts for two weeks.
- Stomach ache.
- Constipation that develops into diarrhea.
- Loss of appetite.
- Rash on the chest or abdomen that appears in the second week after the initial symptoms.
- Body feels weak.
In addition, there are several other typhoid symptoms that may appear, namely:
- bloody chapters.
- Body aches.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Sore throat.
- shivers.
- Dry cough.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Confusion.
- Hallucinations.
- Difficulty concentrating.
If treated quickly, the initial symptoms of typhoid can heal within 5 days. However, if not treated properly, typhoid symptoms can get worse and risk life-threatening complications. In addition, without proper treatment, typhus can take months to heal. Symptoms of typhus can also recur two weeks after the fever is cured.
Handling Types
For mild symptoms of typhoid, self-care can be done at home, namely:
- Drink plenty of water to replace lost body fluids during diarrhea.
- Take antibiotics recommended by a doctor for two weeks to kill the bacteria that cause typhus.
For symptoms of severe typhus, such as swollen stomach, severe diarrhea, or persistent vomiting, medical attention is needed to carry out the following treatments:
- Administration of antibiotics. Medicines are given to treat bacterial infections that cause typhus, for example azithromycin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, or ceftriaxone, for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Fluid therapy. The doctor will recommend that you eat and drink enough water to prevent dehydration.
- Operation. This procedure is necessary if the symptoms of typhus are severe and cause life-threatening complications, such as intestinal perforation.
Mild typhoid symptoms will generally recover within 5 days after self-care at home. However, it may take several weeks for complete recovery. Even though it doesn’t hinder activity, the symptoms of mild typhus shouldn’t be taken lightly, because it can become a complication in the form of bleeding and holes in the digestive tract if it’s not treated immediately.
Therefore, if you experience symptoms of mild to severe typhus, consult a doctor to examine the cause, so that appropriate treatment is given. That way, you avoid dangerous complications.
