BACTERIAL DISEASE 2
Bacterial Disease
Typhoid fever is caused by a bacteria commonly known as Salmonella (WebMD, 2018).
The disease is characterized by a severe fever that is accompanied by headaches, general body
pains as well as diarrhea. The scientific name for the disease causing agent is Salmonella enterica
serotype typhi or Salmonella typhi. The bacteria is spread to human being via contaminated
water, food and it is carried by human from one place to another (WebMD, 2018). The bacteria
is spread by human beings trough improper disposal of stool. Poor drainage as well as poor water
distribution increase the risk of the spread of the disease (Newman, 2017). In the body, the
bacteria attack the small intestines, and the bloodstream at initial stages. At later stages the
bacteria invade the lymphatic system, the biliary system as well as the gallbladder. The bacteria
is passed out in stool and urine where it may contaminate food and water (WebMD, 2018). The
Salmonella typhi is classified as an obligate anaerobe. So far, there is no known reservoir for the
organism outside the human body. The symptoms of the disease include general body malaises,
poor appetite, headaches, severe fever, and diarrhea (Newman, 2017). The fever goes beyond
104
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F. Typhoid is treated through administration of antibiotics. In the previous years,
chloramphenicol was widely used as the antibiotic against Salmonella typhi. The drug was
preferred due to few side effects. However, with more advanced medical technology, more
powerful antibiotics have been invented (Newman, 2017). The antibiotics are used to kill the
Salmonella bacteria. Nowadays, there are vaccines for typhoid fever that are recommended for
people who live or visit high-risk areas; the areas with reported cases of typhoid. The areas that
have poor sanitation have also been marked as high-risk areas (WebMD, 2018).
