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.

Common Worm Infestations

Common worm infestations are medically termed helminthiasis. The word 'helminth' has been derived from the Greek word 'helm-in-thos' that means worm. The evolution of helminthiasis is as old as mankind. Helminths or worms are intestinal parasites and their prevalence is very high in developing countries. Over crowding in localities and deteriorating socio-economic conditions are the main cause of worm infestations/infections. Human beings have been documented as the reservoir for nematodes. Though some host-parasite relationships are relatively benign but almost all the worms are capable of causing serious pathological lesions leading to health complications. However, the population density of worms or intestinal helminths, influence their pathogenicity. We find that majority of the infected individuals are asymptomatic. Most of the intestinal helminths do not multiply within the human host.
There are two major groups of intestinal helminths or worms: A)  Nematodes and B)  Cestodes

A)    Nematodes

1. The roundworm or Ascaris lumbricoides is the largest (15-35 cm in length) and most common nematode parasitizing the intestine of humans. The prevalence of roundworm infestation/infection is around 20% worldwide. Treatment with antihelminthics is effective to kill the adult roundworms but fails to kill larvae.
2. Hookworm infestation/infection is common in all tropical and sub-tropical countries. Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americana are predominant parasites. A single hookworm draws around 0.2 ml blood in 24 hours. Hookworm infestation may cause severe anemia. In such cases, effective means of treatment of anemia would be removal of hookworms by effective drugs before administration of treatment of anemia.
3. The human whipworm, Trichuris trichuria is cosmopolitan in distribution. The whipworm may coexist with roundworm. Small children develop heavy infections due to autoinfection. Effective treatment of trichuriasis is available but self medication is not recommended.
4. Other nematode infestations are Strongyloidiasis and Enterobiasis. Distribution of the intestinal parasites Strongyloides stercoralis and Enterobias vermicularis is worldwide. A number of drugs are available to give 100% cure.

B)    Cestodes (Tapeworm Infections)
        
The distribution of tapeworm infections is worldwide. Man serves as a definitive host for tapeworm species like Taenia saginata, Taenia solium and Hymenolepis nana. For Echinococcus granulousus, man serves as an intermediate host.

Prophylaxis for worm infestations:

• Personal hygiene and sanitation is the chief method of control.
• Administrative measures should be taken up to educate people on personal hygiene.
• Mass treatment of the infected population with medically recommended safe and effective drugs.
• Avoid eating raw vegetables.
• Administrative measures to prevent contamination of drinking water and food stuffs.
• Finger nails should be cut short and hands should be washed thoroughly with soap & water, after toilet and before meals.
• Patient with enterobiasis should wash anal area immediately after waking up to avoid dispersal of eggs.
• The infected person should be advised to sleep alone.
• It is preferable to treat entire family if someone in the family has enterobiasis.

Garlic as Herbal Antibiotic and Home Remedy

Garlic is one of the best sources of natural medicinal compounds, daily used by many as home remedy for a number of ailments. The botanical name of garlic is Allium sativa and it is a rich source of germanium, a mineral thought to strengthen the immune system. The health benefits of raw garlic are numerous, as are its uses. Use of garlic may play a big role in your overall health. It can protect you from digestive and allergic disorders, and provide prophylaxis against a wide range of infections and infestations. Garlic probably is nature's most potent immune system booster. Its aphrodisiac properties enhance the vitality and libido. Experimental studies have demonstrated that garlic has bactericidal action on over two-dozen bacteria. Though the modern physicians have bypassed the use of herbal antibiotics due to easy availability and reliability of pharmaceutical antibiotics, but the herbal antibiotics have least side effects.

The history of civilization stands testimony to the medicinal properties and use of garlic in a variety of ailments including atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, digestive disorders like dyspepsia and gastritis, stroke, cerebral aging, asthma, cough and cataract. The garlic's power as health promoter probably comes from germanium and rich variety of sulphur containing compounds, mainly allicin-an amino acid. It is a natural cholesterol buster also. Modern physicians have also appreciated its use in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and hyperlipidemia. Some benefits of regular use of garlic are listed below:

• Garlic boosts the immune system and bone marrow.


• It provides prophylaxis against bacterial and viral infections.


• It helps lowering the blood pressure as it relaxes the smooth muscles and reduces the viscosity of blood.


• It helps to prevent and treat the cancer of digestive system.


• It is helpful in the management of hyperlipidemia as its regular intake lowers the LDL-cholesterol.


• Its regular intake can help to prevent atherosclerotic plaques in arteries.


• Regular consumption of raw or cooked garlic improves brain function and memory.

Important Tips:

• Chewing raw garlic should be avoided as it may cause very strong burning sensation on your tongue.


• Paste of raw garlic should be taken with curd, buttermilk (lassi), lemon water or hot curries.


• Paste of raw garlic and green coriander leaves with lemon juice with salt and pepper to taste is the best recipe to be taken with major meals.


• Curries and snacks cooked with garlic paste are equally beneficial.


• Daily intake of raw garlic in any recipe should not be more than 2 gram.