Written by Editorial Team
During the first couple of years, a baby’s immune system is still developing. Due to this, he is more susceptible to infections – both bacterial and viral. A baby as young as two months is more vulnerable to these infections as his immunity level is very low. Therefore, it is imperative to reduce his exposure to these disease-causing micro-organisms. It is also very important to maintain proper hygiene and good sanitary conditions to protect the baby from any infections. There are many types of diseases that a baby can get infected. One such infection is typhoid in babies.
Thus, it is crucial to be very careful if the baby shows any signs of typhoid and get it treated promptly. It could be fatal if not treated at the right time. Typhoid is caused mainly due to bacteria that develop in an unclean, contaminated, and dirty environment. Therefore, one can prevent bacteria from fostering by keeping the surroundings clean. Even though typhoid has been eradicated in most countries, there are some underdeveloped and developing ones where it still exists and is threatening to life.
In This Article
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection, which can be serious and sometimes life-threatening in young babies. This disease is associated with poor hygiene and sanitary conditions. The babies can turn out to be extremely sick or even die without proper treatment. Typhoid is more commonly found in developing and underdeveloped countries.
Bacteria called Salmonella Typhi cause typhoid fever. Once the bacteria get into the body, they quickly multiply and spread into the circulatory system of the baby. Typhoid is an exceptionally infectious disease that spreads fast and is generally transmitted by food and water just like cholera.
Babies usually get typhoid fever by drinking water or eating food that has been infected by the bacteria. Babies can also catch this infection if the infected or carrier person of typhoid touches them with unwashed hands.
The signs and symptoms of typhoid fever surface within one week to three weeks after the baby is exposed to infection. The symptoms vary from mild to severe. Usually, the babies fall sick suddenly. The symptoms of typhoid include:
Proper diagnosis and treatment on time are very important when it comes to typhoid in babies. If you see any of the following symptoms in your baby please take him to the doctor as soon as possible.
A blood test or stool examination in a laboratory will help the doctor to diagnose typhoid in your baby.
If proper and on-time treatment is not given to the baby, there are certain life-threatening risks associated with typhoid fever. They include:
As typhoid is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are a necessary treatment option. The strength of the antibiotic to be given and the duration of the course depends on the severity of typhoid.
Yes. The vaccines are available for protecting babies from typhoid. There are two types of vaccination. Injection and an oral vaccine. The injection is usually preferred for small children (two years or older) and the oral vaccine is usually given to children above 6 years. However, the effect of the vaccine will last only for 3 years. Therefore, if you hear that typhoid is in your neighborhood and if the vaccination time has lapsed, consider revaccination after consulting with your doctor.
Though typhoid is a fast-spreading disease, taking some preventive measures will reduce the chances of your baby catching it. These measures are:
It is heart wrecking to see a child suffer from typhoid, yet its prevention and cure lie in our hands. Apart from that, get vaccines at the right time. Also, maintain proper standards of hygiene and cleanliness. In case the child shows symptoms that worsen, seek the medical practitioner’s help immediately.
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