Typhoid Fever - Treatment and Symptoms

Ayurvedic Name: Aantrik Jwara

What is Typhoid Fever?

Typhoid fever is also called enteric fever. It happens due to the involvement of the intestines and may become very serious if treatment is not provided to the patient at the right time. Typhoid fever has a tendency to relapse the patient. It is sometimes accompanied by hoarse cough and constipation or diarrhoea. Typhoid fever is mainly transmitted by ingestion of food or contaminated water from an infected person. Typhoid fever is still common in many developing countries like india, where it affects about 21.5 million persons each year.

Now vaccines for typhoid fever are also available, but these vaccines are not effective so much and are just partially effective and are usually reserved for people who may be exposed to the disease or are traveling to areas where typhoid fever is endemic. No vaccine has been discovered till date for paratyphoid fever.

How does typhoid fever spread?

Typhoid fever appears to have affected thousands of human beings from last so many years, but the cause of the illness is a poisonous and interruptive bacterium called Salmonella typhi . Typhoid fever mainly spreads when people eat food or drink water which is already been infected with Salmonella typhi. This bacteria lives only in humans. Persons with typhoid fever carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract. Therefore, typhoid fever is more common in unhygienic areas of the world where hand washing is less frequent and water is likely to be contaminated with germs. It also spreads through direct contact with a person who is already infected with this disease.

A different pathogen, Salmonella paratyphi , causes paratyphoid fever. Although they're related, these aren't the same bacteria responsible for salmonellosis, another serious intestinal infection.

After treatment, some people who recover from typhoid fever, even then continue to harbor the bacteria in their intestinal tract or gallbladder, for some years. These people are called chronic carriers, usually shed the bacteria in their feces and are capable of infecting others, although they no longer have signs or symptoms of the disease themselves.

What are the symptoms of typhoid fever?

If you have typhoid fever you may have the following symptoms:

• Typhoid fever is usually recognized by the sudden onset of sustained fever.
• During typhoid fever you may also suffer from severe headaches.
• Nausea is an another symptom for typhoid fever.
• Some times Stomach Pain is also accounted.
• Sometimes the person also suffers from severe loss of appetite.
• Typhoid fever accompanied by insomnia and feverishness, particularly at night.
• In the beginning the temperature of the body is slightly high in morning, then it gradually becomes normal in the afternoon and then again rises in the evening. The temperature of sustained fever may go up to as high as 103° to 104° F (39° to 40° C ).

Some other symptoms of typhoid fever are:

• Sore throat.
• Myalgia.
• Mild vomiting.
• Lassitude and discomfort.

What you should do if you think you have typhoid fever?

You may go to doctor immediately, if you suspect you have typhoid fever . The patient may be given an antibiotic for the treatment of the typhoid fever. Persons given antibiotics usually begin to feel better after 2 days and chances of deaths rarely occur. Persons who do not get treatment may continue to have fever for weeks or months, and as many as 20% may die from complications of the infection.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Typhoid fever

Given below course you may follow for general treatment of typhoid fever, it depends on subjective or objective symptoms of the patient.

In first week: You may take 125 mg each of Muktashukti Bhasma and Mrigshringa Bhasma, at least three times daily which should be mixed with honey. A decoction of 12 gm of Khub Kalan and 10 gm of dried grapes with one litre of water, boiled down to about one-third, can be given along with the above medicines.

In second week: You may take a dose of Muktashukti Bhasma (10-12mg) & a dose of Kasturibhairava Rasa (120-125mg) with honey thrice daily. You may also take a mixture of Saubhagya Vati (240 mg) and Jwararyabhra (120 mg) three times in a day with juice of fresh ginger.

In third week: Mix 120 mg of Pravala Bhasma and 120 mg of Vasantmalati Ras with atleast 120 mg Amritsattva, to be taken with honey at least two times in a day. After at least three hours of serving the above medication give a dose of 240 mg of Powder of Pippali & also 240 mg of sarvajwaralauha with honey atleast two times in a day.

That is first, second & third, second should be taken alternatively.

In fourth week:You may take a mixture of Navayasa Choorna (Powder) - 2.5 mg & Vasantmalati Ras 125 mg & Sitopladi Choorna - 1.5 gm (Two Doses) to be taken with honey at least two times in a day. After meals, take a liquid compound prepared from- 10ml of Amritarishta & 5ml of Vishmushtayasava with 10ml of Lauhasava (one dose to be taken for each with equal quantity of water after lunch & dinner meals).

If whole body is massaged with oil, preferably Mahalakhshadi Tail daily, it will provide much desired relief to the patient and also help in quicker recovery. Some people suggest massage with olive oil or Johnson's Body oil but, then, it is simply a matter of individual response and suitability, availability and choice.

Some Prevention Tips for Typhoid Fever

You may follow following three actions to protect from typhoid fever:

• Avoid foods and drinks that you may think may be contaminated. Also avoid eating things that have been kept in the open for long time.
• Most important thing - Get vaccinated against typhoid fever.
• Avoiding risky foods will also help protect you from other illnesses, including travelers diarrhea, cholera, dysentery and hepatitis A.