Typhoid Fever Food Chart & Treatment
Typhoid fever is a disease caused by S. Typhi bacterium. It develops a high fever, flu-like symptoms and diarrhea. Typhoid can be life-threatening and need a treatment properly with antibiotics.
What is typhoid fever?
Typhoid fever is a disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi). It damages the small intestines (gut) and develops high fever, stomach pain and other symptoms. Typhoid fever is also known as enteric fever.
They will commonly know about paratyphoid fever mentioned along with typhoid. Paratyphoid fever is same as to typhoid with extra other symptoms. It’s developed by Salmonella Paratyphi (S. Paratyphi).
S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi are different than the Salmonella bacteria that develop salmonellosis, which a common type of food poisoning.
Who does typhoid fever affect?
Typhoid fever is most frequent in rural areas of developing countries where there isn’t modern sanitation. Countries in South and Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Africa and the Caribbean peoples are mostly affected by typhoid. Travelers are most common at higher risk when visiting Pakistan, India or Bangladesh. Children are more common to severe from typhoid than adults.
What’s a long-term carrier of typhoid fever?
Some people will get this disease continually to be contagious with typhoid fever even after they’ve recovered (long-term carrier). They spread typhoid for a year or more with very mild symptoms. It’s important to get tested for S. Typhi after getting better to make sure that can’t spread it to other people.
What are the symptoms?
Typhoid fever gets its name from a higher fever that can last for weeks if left untreated. It often gets worse more than a few week.
Other symptoms of typhoid fever are:
- Headache.
- Chills.
- Loss of appetite.
- Stomach (abdominal) pain.
- Rose spots rash,
- Cough.
- Muscle aches.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
What causes it?
Typhoid fever is caused by the bacterium S. Typhi. It placed in the gut (intestines) of infected people and can contaminate food and water.
How does it spread?
This fever mostly spreads through food or water contaminated with S. Typhi. This can happen if somebody with typhoid contaminate something that eat or drink without washing their hands. It can also happen if the contaminated water gets into water that drink or on food you eat.
The typhoid can spread from another person if they don’t wash their hands after going to the restroom. When the infected person touch the surfaces or objects (like phones or doorknobs) they can left the bacteria behind that can transfer to the next person who touches it.
Typhoid fever food chart
Typhoid infection occurs in the digestive tract. In this infection your gut is ulcerated and needs rest to heal. Hence, it is advisable to take easily digestible food and avoid high fiber diet. Food with whole grains, raw vegetables and fruits, uncooked meat are avoided. Better to take processed cereals, well cooked vegetables and meat.
| Diet to follow | Include | Exclude |
| Breakfast | Cooked Cereals,Boiled Milk, eggs, bananas | Oats, seeds, nuts, raw fruits |
| Lunch | Boiled rice in semisolid form, boiled potatoes, yellow daal, well cooked vegetables, yogurt, chicken | Spices, legumes, raw vegetable salads, cabbage, broccoli, whole grains |
| Snacks | Honey, canned fruits, herbal tea, soups, biscuits | mozzarella sticks, doughnuts, potato chips, fried chicken |
| Dinner | Breads, cereals, eggs, soyabean, mushrooms | Oily, fried foods, nuts and raw fruits |
What are the stages of typhoid fever?
The symptoms of typhoid occur in four stages. Early treatment with antibiotics can help from progressing to later stages.
- Stage 1.
The starting typhoid symptoms will get anywhere from 5 to 14 days after coming in contact with S. Typhi. The first symptom is a fever that gets worst within few days called “stepwise” since it goes up in steps. The bacteria will move into the blood in this stage.
- Stage 2.
Around the 2nd week of fever, the bacteria are multiplying in Peyer’s patches (part of your immune system that identifies harmful invaders). Then they will start experiencing abdominal pain and other stomach problems, like diarrhea or constipation. Then will get “rose spots,” small pink dots on the skin that look like a rash.
- Stage 3.
If not treated with antibiotics, the bacteria can develop severe damage, usually around the 3rd week after the symptoms start. Some persons will get serious complications, like internal bleeding and encephalitis (inflammation in the brain).
- Stage 4.
Stage 4 is when most people start to recover. The high fever started to come down. S. Typhi can live in the gallbladder without developing symptoms, which means they may still be contagious even after getting better.
Diagnosis
The doctor will take samples of blood or tissue to test for signs of S. Typhi. They might take samples of:
- Blood.
- Poop (stool).
- Pee (urine).
- Bone marrow.
- X-rays (pictures of the inside of the body) to look for changes in the lungs.
Treatment
The doctor will treat typhoid fever with antibiotics, which may include:
- Ciprofloxacin, levoflaxin or ofloxacin.
- Ceftriaxone, cefotaxime or cefixime.
- Azithromycin.
- Carbapenems.
The case is severe, then may be treated with steroids, such as] dexamethasone.
How can I reduce my risk ?
The best way to reduce the risk of typhoid fever is to get vaccinated. Often hand washing and safe food eating with hygiene are also important for limiting the spread of typhoid.
Vaccines
There are totally 2 vaccines for typhoid fever. They don’t last forever and need to get extra doses to stay protected. They slowly reduce the risk but don’t guarantee that won’t get typhoid. Vaccines may give some protection against paratyphoid fever.
• Oral vaccine. The oral vaccine for typhoid is four pills that for 4 days.
• Injectable vaccine (shot). The injectable vaccine for typhoid is a one shot. Need to get it at least two weeks before going to the affected area. Children more than 2 years old can get the typhoid shot. Need to get a booster dose every two years to stay protected.
Prevention
Safe food practices for preventing typhoid fever
Vaccines are the better way to protect from typhoid. But also take steps to avoid eating or drinking from outside that could be contaminated with S. Typhi or other bacteria. Safe food making practices include:
- Don’t make food for others if you are infected.
- Wash the hands with soap and water before and after preparing food.
- Wash platform and utensils used for food preparation and eating before and after use.
- Don’t eat outside contaminated food. Eat a safe food like eat mostly well-cooked or packaged food.
- Don’t drink contaminated water or eat food prepared with contaminated water.
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