Typhoid fever and cholera are potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, and are mainly transmitted through the consumption of food, drink or water that have been contaminated by the feces or urine of subjects excreting the pathogen.
Typhoid is mainly caused by Salmonella typhi, whereas cholera is caused by intestinal infection by the toxin-producing bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Typhoid fever, also known as enteric fever, is a potentially life-threatening multi-systemic illness. It is mainly caused by Salmonella enterica, subspecies enterica serovar typhi, and to a lesser extent by serovars paratyphi A, B, and C, which are members of the family of Enterobacteriaceae.
S. typhi is restricted to human hosts, and chronic carriers constitute the reservoir of infection.
The disease is mainly transmitted through the consumption of food, drink or water that have been contaminated by the feces or urine of subjects excreting bacteria (sick or convalescent people or chronic asymptomatic carriers).
The main manifestations of the disease are fever, which can reach 38°-40°C, and abdominal symptoms (such as diarrhea or constipation). Nonspecific symptoms, such as weakness, anorexia, headache and dizziness, may precede the fever.
Ciprofloxacin is commonly used as an empiric treatment, as fluoroquinolones are recommended. However, as fluoroquinolone-resistant or multidrug-resistant strains are spreading, third-generation cephalosporins are used when the possibility of resistance is high.
Cholera is a rapidly-dehydrating diarrheal disease caused by intestinal infection by the toxin-producing bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Cholera displays an acute nature, leading to severe dehydration within hours, and death if not treated adequately.
Cholera is confirmed through culture of a stool specimen or rectal swab.
Treatment for cholera is relatively cheap and simple. Intravenous rehydration with Ringer’s lactate solution should be administered aggressively in order to restore the circulation.
