News / Health
Seek urgent medical attention if typhoid is suspected, says Cimas
03 Feb 2016 at 02:34hrs | Views
Cimas Medical Aid Society has urged anyone displaying symptoms of typhoid fever to seek urgent medical attention as soon as the possibility of typhoid is suspected.
"Typhoid fever is highly contagious. Without prompt treatment it can cause serious complications and even death," a Cimas spokesperson said.
The warning from Cimas follows reports of cases of typhoid occurring in Harare's Hopley Farm, Glen Norah, Hatfield and Budiriro suburbs.
Cimas operates primary healthcare clinics in several parts of the country, including, in Harare, one at High Glen Shopping Centre in Budiriro and another which is open 24 hours a day every day in Simon Vengai Muzenda Street (formerly Fourth Street). Its other Harare clinics are in Chinhoyi Street and Rowland Square in Milton Park.
The Cimas spokesperson said it was vital that anyone suspected of having typhoid should be treated as soon as possible. The spokesperson also urged everyone to practice high standards of hygiene to avoid becoming infected.
Typhoid is caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria, which are spread through contaminated food and water and occasionally through direct contact with an infected person.
A person can become infected with the bacteria by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. This can include eating food handled by an infected person or washed with water that has become contaminated.
The most common way in which water becomes contaminated is through the seepage into it of sewage containing the bacteria.
Common early symptoms that the Cimas spokesperson said people need to look out for include fever, with a temperature that can be as high as 40 degrees Celsius, tiredness, constipation, diarrhoea, headache, stomach pain, loss of appetite and a sore throat.
Normally patients show these signs and symptoms one to three weeks after contracting the disease.
Without treatment, further symptoms may include the person becoming delirious or lying motionless and exhausted with eyes half closed.
"If you develop signs and symptoms of typhoid that include high fever, diarrhoea, stomach pain and loss of appetite, you should see a doctor immediately," said the Cimas spokesperson.
"A doctor will commonly prescribe an antibiotic. It also helps for the patient to drink lots of fluids to prevent the dehydration that normally results from a prolonged fever and diarrhoea.
"With antibiotic therapy and drinking lots of fluids a patient is likely to recover within two to three days," the spokesperson said.
"It would be wise to refrain from eating raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled. Peel fruits when this is possible, preferably peeling them yourself. Eat foods that have been thoroughly cooked and that are still hot and steaming.
"Thorough hand washing after using the toilet is also important," the spokesperson said.
"The safest food to eat is food that is prepared by yourself or prepared while you watch and eaten whilst it is hot."
"Typhoid fever is highly contagious. Without prompt treatment it can cause serious complications and even death," a Cimas spokesperson said.
The warning from Cimas follows reports of cases of typhoid occurring in Harare's Hopley Farm, Glen Norah, Hatfield and Budiriro suburbs.
Cimas operates primary healthcare clinics in several parts of the country, including, in Harare, one at High Glen Shopping Centre in Budiriro and another which is open 24 hours a day every day in Simon Vengai Muzenda Street (formerly Fourth Street). Its other Harare clinics are in Chinhoyi Street and Rowland Square in Milton Park.
The Cimas spokesperson said it was vital that anyone suspected of having typhoid should be treated as soon as possible. The spokesperson also urged everyone to practice high standards of hygiene to avoid becoming infected.
Typhoid is caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria, which are spread through contaminated food and water and occasionally through direct contact with an infected person.
A person can become infected with the bacteria by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. This can include eating food handled by an infected person or washed with water that has become contaminated.
The most common way in which water becomes contaminated is through the seepage into it of sewage containing the bacteria.
Common early symptoms that the Cimas spokesperson said people need to look out for include fever, with a temperature that can be as high as 40 degrees Celsius, tiredness, constipation, diarrhoea, headache, stomach pain, loss of appetite and a sore throat.
Normally patients show these signs and symptoms one to three weeks after contracting the disease.
Without treatment, further symptoms may include the person becoming delirious or lying motionless and exhausted with eyes half closed.
"If you develop signs and symptoms of typhoid that include high fever, diarrhoea, stomach pain and loss of appetite, you should see a doctor immediately," said the Cimas spokesperson.
"A doctor will commonly prescribe an antibiotic. It also helps for the patient to drink lots of fluids to prevent the dehydration that normally results from a prolonged fever and diarrhoea.
"With antibiotic therapy and drinking lots of fluids a patient is likely to recover within two to three days," the spokesperson said.
"It would be wise to refrain from eating raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled. Peel fruits when this is possible, preferably peeling them yourself. Eat foods that have been thoroughly cooked and that are still hot and steaming.
"Thorough hand washing after using the toilet is also important," the spokesperson said.
"The safest food to eat is food that is prepared by yourself or prepared while you watch and eaten whilst it is hot."
Source - Agencies
