Two typhoid cases confirmed in KZN
Two typhoid victims have added to the now 19 reported cases in South Africa this year
TWO cases of typhoid have recently been reported in KZN, adding to the 19 confirmed cases around South Africa this year.
With only one fatality confirmed, the National Institute for Communicable Disease’s Dr Karen Reddy has stressed that the number of cases reported did not constitute an outbreak.
Deputy Director of the Institute Lucille Blumberg said that there can be cases of typhoid all over the country – some are from travel and some are endemic to the country.
‘If a person with typhoid prepares food like a salad that is not cooked, it can spread. But heating and boiling food kills typhoid,’ said Blumberg.
The laboratory services in South Africa identified 72 typhoid cases in 2015 and 103 in 2014.
What is Typhoid
Typhoid is an infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhimurium and if untreated, around one in four cases end in death.
If treatment is given, less than four in 100 cases are terminal.
Salmonella typhimurium enters through the mouth and spends one to three weeks in the intestine.
After this time, it makes its way through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream.
Most cases in South Africa have a travel history to a place where there is a current outbreak of typhoid.
Typhoid fever is transmitted by contaminated water and food. Cooking food kills most typhoid germs.
Symptoms
The two predominant symptoms of typhoid are fever and rash.
Typhoid fever is particularly high and it gradually increases over several days.
The rash, which does not affect every patient, consists of rose-coloured spots, particularly on the neck and abdomen.
Other symptoms can include weakness, abdominal pain, constipation, headaches and, more rarely, confusion, diarrhea and vomiting.
