High-grade Fever with Pain in Tummy and Vomiting: May be Typhoid

Cases of typhoid fever are up during rainy season due to poor public health measures. Sanitation-wise filthy cities, uncovered and unwashed food stuffs are hazardous for travelers since typhoid infection is food borne. Typhoid fever is caused by bacteria known as Salmonella typhi or Salmonella paratyphi. There are two strains of Salmonella paratyphi, known as Salmonella paratyphi-A & Salmonella paratyphi-B. High-grade fever with pain in tummy associated with vomiting may be typhoid. Fever may rise upto 106^o F creating a scare in the family but never panic and call a physician or take the patient to the hospital. For an accurate diagnosis, germs of typhoid can be grown from the blood (Blood Culture Test) of the patient. However, there are some viral fevers which may mimic the symptoms of typhoid. If untreated, typhoid may lead to dire complications like perforation of intestine, hemorrhage (bleeding) and sudden bacterial shock. My contention is not to horrify people by citing the manifestations of this disease but spread awareness about prevention and timely treatment of it.

Science has enabled us to diagnose and treat typhoid effectively with antibiotics. Patient may be treated at home or at a hospital. But complete course of the recommended antibiotics should be taken to avoid relapse. Other members of Salmonella family (Salmonella paratyphi-A & Salmonella paratyphi-B) producing paratyphoid fevers and food-poisoning can also be treated well with antibiotics. Bacteria of Salmonella family are facultative bacteria and carriers of the disease continue passing the germs in their stool and urine.

Prevention is always better than cure and till we catch-up on community prevention; individual prophylaxis has to be very tight through vaccination. TAB vaccine is used worldwide to acquire protection against bacteria of Salmonella family. A variety of antibiotics are available to treat typhoid fever. Many countries have eradicated indigenous typhoid through meticulous and efficient public health measures. However, people traveling abroad are advised to get shots of TAB vaccine and cholera vaccine.

Management of Knee Pain

There are around 150 joints in our body and the Knee joint is most afflicted by disease or injury. The knee joint bears the brunt of our body weight and pain in this joint affects our mobility. Knee injury, immunological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis in addition to age related bone disorders may complicate the problem. Early management of pain and care of knee joints could be helpful to prevent any deformity and disability. Knee pain may be at front, back or at inner or outer side of knee joint. Our body weight exerts pressure on our knee joints during we walk, run or climb stairs. Pressure force on knee joint is almost 5 to 6 times more when we climb stairs as compared to when we walk on leveled ground or road. The size of our hips also affects pressure on our knee joints. Individuals with broader hips are at more risk to develop knee pain. Both the young and old people can be inflicted by knee pain but site of pain may vary person to person.

Tips to manage knee pain:

• Consult your family doctor or bone & joint expert for an early diagnosis.
• At home, early treatment involves wrapping with crepe bandage and elevation of knees to prevent swelling.
• Obesity is the major factor for the knee problem, so body weight control should be your first priority.
• Avoid climbing stairs and do non-impact exercise like walking or stationary cycling.
• Use sports shoes as these would help to reduce impact shock while walking.
• Warm oil or pain relieving liniment, spray or gel can be applied to knee joint and injured muscles.
• Try to keep your knees straight while sitting in a chair.
• Join rehabilitation exercise program to strengthen the muscles involved in injury and to regain power & coordination of the knee joint movement.
• Keep in touch with your physician for proper medication to avoid osteoarthritis.