Typhoid is a common disease experienced by children. Symptoms of typhoid in children can come suddenly or gradually over a period of several weeks. Therefore, it is important for every parent to recognize the symptoms of this disease in children so that treatment can be done immediately.
Typhoid or also known as typhoid fever is a disease caused by bacteria Salmonella typhi. These bacteria can generally thrive in unhygienic or undercooked drinks or food.
Children are considered most at risk for typhoid because their immune systems are not yet strong and are still developing.
Symptoms of Typhoid in Children in General
Symptoms of typhoid in children can appear about 1-2 weeks after a child is infected with the bacteria that causes typhus. When stricken with typhoid, children can experience mild to moderate symptoms. These symptoms can last up to 4 weeks or even more.
The following are some of the symptoms that generally appear when a child has typhoid:
- Fever does not go away for more than 1 week
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach ache
- Digestive problems, such as diarrhea or constipation
- Weak and sore
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Loss of appetite
- The appearance of a whitish layer on the tongue
When exposed to typhoid, children can also experience enlargement of the liver and spleen, weight loss, and dehydration due to lack of drinking. If treated immediately, typhoid symptoms in children usually disappear after 3 or 4 weeks.
On the other hand, if you do not get the right treatment, typhoid symptoms in children can persist for more than 1 month and are at risk of causing various complications, such as:
- Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach and intestines
- Intestinal ulcers (bowel perforation)
- Shock
- Loss of consciousness or coma
- Bronchitis
- Blood poisoning or sepsis
- Peritonitis
- Meningitis
These complications can be dangerous and potentially life threatening for the child. Therefore, children need to get medical attention immediately when they experience typhus symptoms.
The Right Handling of Typhoid in Children
When your child experiences the typhoid symptoms mentioned above, immediately take the child to the nearest doctor or hospital for an examination and get the right treatment.
To diagnose typhoid symptoms in children, the doctor will perform a physical examination and supporting examinations such as blood and urine tests, Widal examination, and stool or blood cultures.
If the results of the examination show that the child is suffering from typhoid, the doctor can provide several treatments in the form of:
Giving omedicine
To overcome the bacterial infection that causes typhoid in children, doctors can give antibiotics in the form of injections through an IV or oral drugs, such as tablets, capsules, or syrups.
Antibiotics for typhoid will usually be given for 1-2 weeks. If complications arise, the doctor may give antibiotics for a longer period of up to more than 4 weeks.
When prescribed antibiotics, the child must finish the drug even though the typhus symptoms he feels have improved. This is important to do to make sure the bacteria that causes typhoid have disappeared completely.
In addition to giving antibiotics, doctors can also prescribe fever-reducing drugs, such as paracetamol, to treat typhoid symptoms in children.
Fluid therapy
Symptoms of typhoid in children, such as high fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite, can make children susceptible to dehydration. To replace lost body fluids, doctors can provide fluid intake through an IV. In this condition, the child should undergo treatment in the hospital.
Some of the medical treatment steps above also need to be accompanied by various efforts that parents need to make to speed up the child's healing process. Efforts that can be made, namely:
Provide nutritious food on a regular basis
Decreased appetite is one of the symptoms of typhoid commonly experienced by children. However, children still need to be given nutritious food intake during illness so that their nutritional and energy needs are met. With adequate nutritional needs, children can recover quickly.
Give your child soft textured and highly nutritious foods, such as porridge, hard-boiled eggs, chicken soup, fish, and fruit and vegetables such as bananas and boiled potatoes.
If he can not eat in large portions, give it in smaller portions but often. Don't forget to process food hygienically and fully cooked.
Ensuring children get enough rest
During typhoid, children need complete rest for a week after fever and other typhus symptoms subside. Adequate rest plays an important role in restoring energy and supporting the healing process.
Although the symptoms of typhoid in children have disappeared, this disease can come again at any time. In fact, the typhus symptoms experienced by children can relapse if they do not get the right treatment.
Therefore, give your child hygienic food and drink and teach him to wash his hands regularly to avoid typhoid. If symptoms of typhoid appear in children, immediately take the child to the doctor to get the right treatment.