typhusor type or typhoid fever is a disease caused by bacterial infectionSalmonella typhi. Tifus can be transmitted by fast, generally through kconsumption of food or drink already contaminated with feces containing bacteriaSalmonella typhi.
Nearly 100,000 Indonesians are infected with typhoid each year. Therefore, typhoid is declared an endemic disease and a serious health problem in the country.
Causes of Typhus
Poor sanitation and limited access to clean water are believed to be the main causes of the development of typhoid. In addition, children are more often attacked by typhus because the immune system is not yet perfect.
If not treated immediately, it is estimated that every one in five people will die of typhus. In addition, typhoid is also at risk of causing complications.
Typhoid Symptoms
In general, the following are the symptoms of typhoid:
- Fever that increases gradually each day until it reaches 39°C–40°C and is usually higher at night
- Muscle ache
- Headache
- Feeling unwell
- Stomach ache
- Weight loss
Typhoid Treatment
Typhoid is treated with antibiotics. Treatment can be done at home or needs to be done in a hospital. Treatment will be adjusted according to the severity of typhus experienced by the patient.
Typhoid Vaccination
One of the steps to prevent typhoid is typhoid vaccination. In Indonesia, the typhoid vaccine is an immunization recommended by the government, but it is not yet included in the mandatory category. Typhoid vaccine is given to children older than 2 years, and is repeated every 3 years.
Like other vaccines, the typhoid vaccine does not guarantee 100% protection against typhoid infection. Children who have been immunized with typhoid can still be infected, but the infection is not as severe as in patients who have not received the typhoid vaccine.
Vaccination is also highly recommended for people who want to work or travel to areas where there are many cases of typhus spread. Other preventive measures that need to be taken are maintaining the cleanliness of the food and beverages to be consumed, as well as maintaining the cleanliness of the living environment.