When they enter the gallbladder and lymphatic tissue they multiply in enormous numbers. It is when they re-enter the intestinal tract that the disease can be diagnosed from stool samples. Symptoms

The first symptoms are usually headache, muscle pain and a fairly high fever. The problem is that these symptoms only occur about ten days after infection. It isn't until four to five days later that a rash occurs. The rash takes on the appearance of small, flat, red spots. A week after that those spots darken and look like bruises. If the disease has progressed this far, the patient begins to have short periods of unconsciousness, then the kidneys fail, a cough begins, and the rash turns to gangrene in the extremities. If no treatment has been given at this point, up to 50 per cent of patients die. It is possible to survive without treatment, with luck, but the brain has to learn to function properly again, and recovery is very slow with full health not returning for a long time (Encyclopedia of Health, p. 1053).

Decline in appetite, generalized aches and pains, and diarrhea can also be relatively early symptoms. The disease, after its incubation period of two weeks may last about four to six weeks.

Treatments or Cures

First of all, typhoid fever can be eliminated as a primary threat to an individual's health by avoiding risky foods and drinks, and getting a typhoid fever vaccination. When an individual travels, being careful about...

The reason this is true is that vaccines are not necessarily totally effective. Avoiding the risky foods also protects the traveler from other serious illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis a
"Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it" is a phrase that covers the steps to avoiding the disease. Boiling water, having drinks without ice, eating thoroughly cooked foods, avoiding raw vegetables and fruits that can't be peeled and avoiding foods from street vendors are a few of the actions this phrase brings to mind (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases).

When typhoid fever is suspected, antibiotics such as ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethozazole, and ciprofloxacin are particular effective. Normally, within 2-3 days after the antibiotics are injected, a patient will begin to feel better. Individuals who did not get treatment may continue to have fever for weeks or months, and many die (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases).

Bibliography

CBWInfo.com. "Typhoid Fever: essential data." 1999. cbwinfo.com. 18 February 2010 .

Encyclopedia of Health. "Typhoid Fever." Encyclopedia of Health, Volume 17. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2009. 1052.

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "Typhoid Fever." 24 October 2005. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 17 February 2010 .