Typhus: causes, symptoms, drugs, and how to prevent it

Rickets or typhoid is a bacterial infection that is spread by ticks and mites. This disease is often equated with typhus (typhus or typhoid fever). In fact, the causes of these two health problems are different. Typhus is caused by bacteria Salmonella typhi, while rickets is caused by bacteria Rickettsia. For more details, see the explanation of typhoid problem below.

Definition and causes of rickets

Rickets is an infection caused by several species of bacteria Rickettsia . These bacteria can be carried by ectoparasites such as fleas, mites and ticks, and then infect humans.

Ectoparasites are often found in animals, such as mice, cats and squirrels. Some people can also carry it from their clothes, sheets, skin, or hair.

The bacteria that cause rickets cannot be passed from one person to another, such as having a cold or a cold. There are four types of typhoid, and each type is caused by bacteria and different modes of transmission.

Several types of typhoid depending on the source of the bacteria that infect it are:

• Epidemic typhus caused by bacteria Rickettsia prowazeki which is transmitted by the bite of head lice on the human body. This type of disease can cause serious illness, even death.
• Endemic typhus or murine typhus is caused by bacteria Rickettsia typhi, which are transmitted by fleas to mice. This disease is similar to epidemic typhus, but has milder symptoms and rarely causes death.
• Typhus scrub caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi , is transmitted through the bite of mite larvae that live in rodents. This disease can attack humans in a mild to severe level.

This disease can be found all over the world. However, densely populated countries with poor sanitation are at a higher risk of developing this disease outbreak.

Typhoid risk factors

This disease can affect people of all ages, income levels, social levels, and the environment. However, the risk of this disease will increase if you:

• Have a weak immune system, such as people with HIV / ADIS, on chemotherapy treatment, infants, and the elderly.
• Having prolonged skin contact with an infected person. This does not include a brief handshake or hug.
• Sharing the same items, such as towels, sheets, or clothes with an infected person.
• Make direct contact with animals infected with bacteria that cause typhoid.
• Travel to an endemic area of ​​the disease.

Symptoms rickets

Signs and symptoms of this disease appear 1-2 weeks after exposure and can develop from mild to severe. Generally, rickets will cause symptoms such as:

• Fever and shaking
• Headache
• Quick breath
• Muscle and body aches
• Rash
• Cough
• Nausea
• Gag
• Dazed

Other symptoms of rickets may include a rash and dark spots such as scabies in the area of ​​the body that was bitten by a tick. This rash may also spread throughout the body such as the face, palms, or feet.

In typhus scrub, possible symptoms can include mental changes, such as confusion to coma. In this condition, other symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes.

Diagnosis of rickets

The symptoms of rickets are often similar to those of other diseases. This makes it difficult to diagnose.

First of all, the doctor will check your physical condition based on the symptoms you are complaining about. Your doctor may also ask about your travel history.

The doctor will then perform the following tests to determine the diagnosis:

• Blood test or skin biopsy to determine the type of bacteria causing rickets
• Blood tests using a serological method are taken two weeks apart. This blood test serves to detect the patient's immune system response to the patient.

Rickets treatment

This disease can be treated with antibiotics. Treatment using these antibiotics is usually started before the results of blood tests or biopsy are known.

Some of the antibiotics that doctors often recommend are:

• Tetracycline
• Doxycycline
• Chloramphenicol (used less often)

Quoted from the US National Library of Medicine, taking tetracycline orally can stain teeth. Therefore, it is not usually prescribed for children who still have milk teeth.

In addition to antibiotics, people with epidemic typhus may need assistance with oxygen and intravenous (IV) fluids.

Typhoid complications

Like any other disease, rickets requires prompt and precise treatment. When someone who is infected is allowed to drag on without adequate medical treatment, serious complications can arise.

Some of the complications that may occur include:

• Hepatitis aka inflammation of the liver
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Hypovolemia or decreased volume of blood fluids

Prevention of rickets

There is no vaccine that can prevent typhoid infection. Even so, there are some simple ways you can do to reduce your risk of getting infected with this disease, including:

• Use insecticide
  Always provide insect repellent whenever you want to travel to open places. If necessary, wear long sleeves and long pants.
• Washing hands
  Wash your hands every time you want to start an activity or after an activity. Use an antiseptic soap to make sure your hands are clean.
• Wash all clothes and bed linen
  Use hot water and soap to wash all clothes, towels, and bed linen, or boil it if necessary to kill any lingering mites.
• Let the mites starve to death
  For items that cannot be washed, you can put them in a closed plastic wrap and place them in a place that is rarely reached for several weeks. The mites will die within a few days when left without food.
• Avoid contact with sufferers
  Avoid direct contact with sufferers for a long time. In addition, also avoid the habit of using each other's personal items, such as towels, which can transmit this disease.
• Clean all the rooms in the house
  Clean all carpets and furniture in the house. Don't forget, use a face mask when cleaning the area.
• Consult a doctor
  Immediately check your health after visiting an endemic area where the disease is endemic. Even if you do not show symptoms of typhoid, you should still get tested.

Preventing the transmission of rickets requires high discipline. The methods above must be done before starting therapy with medication. Preventive measures can lower the risk of recurrent infections in patients who have recovered.