What are the After Effects of Typhoid?

Typhoid is a life threatening bacteria infection that is caused by a bacteria called Salmonella typhi. This disease is contracted through consumption of food and water that has been contaminated with S.typhi. Typhoid occurs less frequently in the United States and it is more common in developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America.

There are several after effects of typhoid, even in case of drug treated typhoid. There are some real severe after effects of an untreated typhoid. Read below to know about the after effects of typhoid.

Weakness is common, after recovering from any infectious disease and it depends on how long the infection lasted and how many days after the sickness, the treatment began. After beginning the suitable antibiotics, takes at least 24 to 72 hours for effect of antibiotics to become apparent. It is also the same in case of typhoid.

The age of the affected person, amount and quality of food intake before the illness and nutritional status before suffering from typhoid, are some other factors that determine the speed of recovery after the infection. In case of typhoid, that is the bacterial infection of the intestines, there is an inflammation of the infected part of the intestine. This in turn causes abdominal pain along with high fever, vomiting or nausea. Total cure occurs after complete course of an appropriate antibiotic as prescribed by the doctor. There may be mild abdominal pain, even after recovery and the person may also have a sensation to vomit. This may in turn prevent the intake of adequate food and thus the person may feel even weaker.

However, it is crucial enough to take small frequent meals, even if there is no appetite. And one must take adequate relaxation and perform light exercises, that would be beneficial.

There is also one more after drug effect of typhoid. With drug treatment for typhoid, the affected person also suffer from chronic indigestion. The food materials are not properly digested resulting in te body not getting adequate nutrition and the unabsorbed substances are not eliminated from the body.

The sloughing of the membranous linings due to typhoid causes the intestines to become denuded in the latter stages of this infection. This is the reason for the stools of the infected individual to have a soupy appearance. Similarly, the lymphatic, glandular, and venous structures of the intestines become atrophied and shed away.

These sloughed membranes and glandular structures are rebuilt by the body if the natural process of inflammation is allowed to be completed. The recuperation is also very rapid with complete healing of the patient post a typhoid infection.

However; if, the natural inflammatory processes are not allowed to be completed interfered or are suppressed with administration of opiates or other agents then the sloughed membranes are not able to be reconstructed by the body and the intestines remain atrophied.

In these cases, the patient may feel that he is cured from the infection but actually they are never completely cured until they are treated with natural methods. Such individuals will lead a miserable life and finally succumb to diseases like pernicious anemia or TB and even if they survive they will be troubled with intestinal indigestion and constipation throughout their life span.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding is believed to be an after effect of typhoid which occurs if the condition is left untreated for prolonged period of time. Symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding are sharp and persistent abdominal discomfort, black tarry stools, coffee ground vomiting, dizziness and weakness. If Gastrointestinal bleeding is not controlled then it may lead to anemia and other complications arising out of iron deficiency. If not controlled it can lead to shock and the patient may not be able to survive. It must be strictly noted that Gastrointestinal Bleeding refers to medical emergency and requires emergent treatment.

Untreated typhoid may result in heart muscle inflammation causing various cardiovascular conditions over time. Typhoid infection also at times results in infection in the membranes and the fluid which encompasses the brain and spinal cord causing meningitis which a serious neurological disorder. Apart from this, untreated typhoid can also lead to infections in the kidneys causing renal failure.

In case typhoid is left untreated, with a couple of weeks the intestines tend to get perforated meaning that due to the infection there are holes that form in the wall of the intestines. This causes the contents of the intestines to leak into abdominal cavity. Symptoms of intestinal perforation are nausea with vomiting, severe tenderness in the abdominal area, blood infection, and severe abdominal pain. It is essential that patients with intestinal perforation are seen in the nearest emergency room for prompt treatment to prevent serious complications. Normally Intestinal perforation needs a surgical procedure to treat it.

Untreated typhoid at times also results in psychiatric problems like delirium, paranoia and hallucinations over time. Delirium refers to a sudden onset of confusional state as a result of physical or mental ailment. Hallucinations refer to a mental disorder in which the affected individual has false perceptions of various events surrounding their life. Paranoia is a mental condition in which the patient has negative suspicions of everyone around them.

It is true that typhoid can be treated effectively with drugs or other medical therapies. However, it is also essential that one recovers completely from the disease and lives in a better health condition by following the strict guidelines, taking adequate foods and liquids in frequent intervals and by taking enough rest and doing light exercises.

Talk to your medical professional and get yourself checked up once, even after you feel you have recovered from the disease.

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Also Read:

• Typhoid: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Risk Factors, Prevention, Diagnosis
• Is Typhoid An Infectious Disease & Which Organs Does Typhoid Affect?
• Is Typhoid Contagious & How Long Does It Take To Recover From Typhoid?