Typhoid outbreak in India – what causes the disease, and what makes it dangerous

Typhoid fever remains a major health challenge in India, as every year, we see multiple outbreaks, which occur most frequently during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, and even otherwise. Recently a typhoid outbreak in Gandhinagar, Gujarat saw 100 hospitalisations, which proved how quickly this disease spreads through areas with insufficient water, and sanitation infrastructure. The bacterial pathogen Salmonella Typhi causes typhoid which people can contract through infected food and water sources, and requires immediate medical care to prevent fatal outcomes. Let’s take a look…What is typhoid feverTyphoid fever is a serious infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi). Enteric fever represents a disease which primarily targets the intestinal system and blood vessels, to produce fever symptoms along with abdominal discomfort and body weakness. India experiences a high number of typhoid cases because research shows the country reports 4.7–4.8 million cases along with numerous annual deaths from this disease.The disease affects children and young adults most frequently, but it can affect anyone who lives, or visits areas with inadequate sanitation and unsafe drinking water supply. The treatment of typhoid fever becomes dangerous when doctors fail to diagnose the condition correctly, and use antibiotics which do not work against drug-resistant bacteria.What is causing typhoid outbreaks in IndiaTyphoid spreads when people eat or drink food and water contaminated with the stool of an infected person. Multiple elements in India create conditions which increase the risk of disease outbreaks.

The water supply remains unsafe because various locations continue using open wells, hand pumps and piped water systems, which become contaminated with sewage, when floods or heavy rainfall occur.The bacteria spread quickly because of inadequate sanitation, which includes open defecation and drains that overflow and faulty sewage infrastructure.The practice of handling food without proper hygiene creates contamination risks for street food, and raw vegetables and drinks including lassi and sugarcane juice.Carriers – Some people recover from typhoid but continue to carry the bacteria in their gallbladder and pass it in their stool, silently spreading the disease.The S. Typhi bacteria across different Indian areas have shown resistance to three vital antibiotics, which include ampicillin, chloramphenicol cotrimoxazole (MDR typhoid), and ciprofloxacin (fluoroquinolone‑resistant). The medical treatment process becomes more complex because this condition leads patients to develop fatal complications.Common symptoms of typhoidThe bacteria trigger typhoid symptoms which appear between 1 to 3 weeks after exposure and produce effects from light to extremely dangerous. The first indicators of this condition present themselves through symptoms which resemble severe influenza symptoms.

The disease will display more severe symptoms during its progressive stages of development

How is typhoid diagnosedThe diagnosis of typhoid occurs through medical evaluation of patient symptoms, together with their travel background, contact history and laboratory results. The most reliable tests are:Blood culture-This is the gold standard; it can detect S. Typhi bacteria in the blood, especially in the first week of fever.Bone marrow culture- More sensitive than blood culture, but it is invasive and not done routinely.Stool and urine culture-These can be positive in later stages of the disease.Widal test-A common blood test that looks for antibodies, but it can give false positives and false negatives, so it should not be used alone to confirm typhoid.The detection of typhoid bacteria through PCR and rapid tests which identify bacterial DNA and antigens occurs rapidly, but these tests do not exist in all locations.Medical personnel in regions with high case numbers will start treatment based on medical assessment, because there are not enough facilities to perform blood culture tests.Treatment of typhoid feverThe treatment plan for patients depends on their disease severity and the antibiotic resistance patterns, which are present in the local community. The treatment of home care applies to patients who have mild to moderate symptoms, yet hospital admission becomes necessary for patients who display symptoms of high fever, confusion or experience bleeding or perforation.The Indian medical field employs three main antibiotic types for treatment.Third‑generation cephalosporins – Ceftriaxone or cefixime are often first‑line drugs, especially for MDR or fluoroquinolone‑resistant typhoid.Azithromycin-Used for uncomplicated typhoid.The medical team uses carbapenems to treat only the most critical drug-resistant infections which occur in hospital settings.Important points in treatment:Patients need to finish their entire antibiotic prescription, regardless of when their fever starts to decrease.The prevention of dehydration requires people to drink enough fluids, which should include oral rehydration solution, buttermilk and coconut water.The recommended diet should consist of soft foods which are easy to digest including khichdi, boiled rice, curd and bananas but you should stay away from spicy and oily and raw foods.Rest well and avoid going to school or work until fully recovered and cleared by a doctor.Disclaimer: This article is informational only and not a substitute for medical advice