How dangerous is typhoid in children?

Parents cannot underestimate typhoid fever in children because it is a dangerous and potentially fatal health condition.

During the first few years of life, your baby's immune system is still in the process of fully developing or when the skin resistance weakens, it makes the little angel more susceptible to viruses and bacteria. Therefore, parents need to take preventive measures to limit their baby's exposure to pathogenic microorganisms.

Typhoid is a bacterial infection that can be life-threatening for young children and babies. The following article,  aFamilyToday Health will provide you with information about typhoid in children as well as treatment directions.

What is typhoid disease?

Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) is a bacterium in the Salmonella family (causing food poisoning) that is capable of causing typhoid fever. The bacteria live in humans and are spread through contact with urine or feces that carry germs. Once in the body, the bacteria multiply rapidly and spread through the bloodstream.

Carelessness in caring for children, exposing children to contaminated water or food ... is the cause of typhoid in young children. Symptoms observed will manifest from mild to severe and gradually disappear within 5 days after starting treatment.

After recovery, your baby can still be a carrier, which means he or she can pass the infection on to others.

The cause of typhoid in children

If infected with Salmonella bacteria, the baby's central circulatory system will be attacked, the bacteria will begin to multiply, causing the baby to get typhoid. This is an extremely dangerous infectious disease for young children and spreads quickly. Young children with typhoid can be caused by the following main reasons:

Food and water:  Like cholera, typhoid is mainly transmitted through water and food. Babies are at risk if they accidentally drink contaminated water or come into contact with foods that contain germs.

Carriers:  Babies can become infected when a carrier or infected person touches the baby but hasn't washed their hands before.

Food preparation:  Unsanitary or improperly stored meals can also lead to typhoid fever in young children.

Feces:  Typhoid bacteria are passed through the stool of an infected person and do not wash their hands after using the toilet.

Although typhoid mainly occurs in children between the ages of two and five years. However, it is easy for toddlers and babies to get it. Symptoms visible in toddlers and young children, on the other hand, can easily be mistaken for other illnesses.

Signs of typhoid fever in children

Typhoid symptoms will develop within 2 weeks of coming into contact with an infected food or food. These symptoms can last up to 4 weeks or longer.They include:

A mild fever of about 37.5 ° C increases with time and lasts for more than three days

Pale pink spots appear on the chest

In some children, the fever tends to get worse at night and return to normal during the day

Unusual pain in the stomach area

Children are tired, weak

Tongue plaque (white plaque on the tongue)

Constipation or diarrhea in children

There are signs of a severe headache

Poor suckling

Lost weight.

The symptoms above can range from mild to severe, based on health factors, age and vaccination history.

Diagnosis of typhoid disease in young children

Reality is not easy to diagnose children with typhoid. If you suspect your baby has typhoid disease, your pediatrician will check to see if your baby's heart rate is slow, if your baby has swelling of the spleen and liver. Sometimes the doctor will order a sample of the baby's blood and stool to be tested to check. Based on the test results, the doctor can confirm whether the child has typhoid or not.

In addition, your doctor will also perform certain tests to rule out dysentery, malaria or pneumonia. While waiting for the results of the blood and stool test, your baby may be prescribed an antibiotic.

Note that when realizing that a child has signs of a disease, parents should immediately take the baby to the doctor. This is because delaying the course of medical examination increases the risk of developing complications of the disease.

Complications of typhoid fever in babies

If not treated right away, typhoid can lead to dangerous complications or even death, especially if the baby's illness is longer than 2 weeks. Complications of this condition include:

Shock

Coma, delirium

Pancreatitis

Pneumonia

Myocarditis

Cholecystitis

Bronchitis

Blood poisoning

Meningitis

Inflammation of the valve and heart lining

Bleeding in the intestines and stomach

Infection of the kidneys or gallbladder.

When should I take my child to see a doctor?

If a young child shows signs of high fever, irritability, persistent vomiting and diarrhea, you should take him or her to the clinic immediately. Even mild symptoms cannot be taken lightly and ignored.

Typhoid treatment in young children

Once the presence of Salmonella Typhi is confirmed in the baby's body, the doctor will prescribe certain antibiotics to kill these bacteria. Treatment of typhoid fever in a newborn will require medication for up to two weeks or for the time prescribed.

You should not buy antibiotics for treatment on your own because only your doctor will make sure that the baby is getting the right medicine and the right dose based on age, weight and health condition.

If the baby is too weak to breastfeed and eat, he or she will need to be hospitalized for fluids, antibiotics and nutrients. However, the baby will be going home when it comes to recovery.

To help the little angel heal more quickly, you can follow these tips:

1. Diet

Typhoid fever makes a child very dehydrated through sweating, vomiting and diarrhea. So, make sure you give your child adequate water.

Your pediatrician may also recommend ORS (oral rehydration solution and electrolyte) to compensate for lost fluids. Although young children are often lazy to breastfeed and eat during this time, it is also important to get the right amount of nutrients needed for the recovery process.

So, if your baby is still breastfed, feed your baby often. For sick toddler children, parents can split meals and feed them every 2-3 hours.

2. Rest

Your baby will need plenty of rest while recovering from the typhoid fever until symptoms are gone. This will help your body get better faster.

3. Sanitation

You may not know, but babies can feel refreshed and clean when their parents clean their bodies and change clothes for each day. Therefore, please wipe over the baby's body with a soft towel with warm water when you see your baby sweat a lot.

Vaccines for typhoid

Typhoid is a fairly common disease in our country. Therefore, immunization becomes essential. There are two types of typhoid vaccines for children, including:

Type of vaccination: This vaccine is injected into the arm of children aged 0-2 years

The form of oral vaccine: Some oral vaccines will be suitable for children aged 6 years and over.

The vaccines will protect children for up to 3 years. Therefore, you should take your baby to have another injection / drink after this time.

Prevent typhoid in children

Experts have given advice on using vaccines to prevent typhoid in children and infants. Besides, you can also take some preventive measures, such as:

1. Clean water

Make sure the whole family drinks and uses clean water. Dirty, infected water is the culprit in most infectious diseases. In addition, you must boil and filter the water before serving.

2. Proper nutrition

There is no evidence that typhoid is transmitted through breast milk. Therefore, you can still breastfeed as usual. If your baby is older, prepare a variety of healthy foods that include meat, fish, dairy products, fruits and vegetables.

3. Thorough cleaning

The whole family should have a habit of good hygiene such as:

Wash hands with soap and water before eating, cooking, or feeding young children

Sanitize your hands after going to the toilet or touching pets, after changing diapers, or going home

Bathe your baby every day to prevent bacteria from accumulating

Maintain hygiene in the kitchen area, arrange tools neatly, clean

Discard expired food.

If typhoid is diagnosed in time, your baby has a higher chance of recovery. When delayed, the condition risks death. In addition, take preventive measures to prevent this disease from affecting your baby's health.