An Overview on Typhoid: Definition, Symptoms & Dietary Considerations
Did you know! Typhoid, also known as enteric fever, is a severe illness in some developing countries? Yes, It is caused after consuming water or food contaminated by the bacteria salmonella with symptoms such as fatigue, headache, high fever, diarrhoea and weight loss. In this article let’s understand how dietary management affects the treatment quality and eases symptoms in typhoid.
Typhoid is an infection caused by the bacterium S. typhi which lives in the intestines and bloodstream of humans. It spreads between individuals through direct contact with the feces of a person with an infection. The bacterium enters through the mouth and spends 1–3 weeks in the intestine. Then, it makes its way through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream spreading into other tissues and organs. Henceforth, it is crucial to focus on alleviating digestive distress caused by typhoid fever while ensuring that your body is getting enough energy.
Foods to Avoid in Typhoid
- Whole Grains — Grains such as quinoa, couscous, barley, buckwheat and brown rice take enough time to digest increasing the pressure on the digestive system making the typhoid patient restless.
- Legumes — Black beans, kidney beans, lentils, and chickpeas should be avoided as they cause bloating during digestion which worsens and suppresses the digestion process.
- Raw Vegetables — Food such as broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage and onions produces gas and causes bloating issues during digestion, increasing pressure on the digestive system, which is harmful during Typhoid.
- Fruits — High fiber foods such as dried fruits, raw berries, pineapple and kiwi are hard to digest increasing the recovery time. Additionally, they also suppress the digestive system.
- Spicy Foods — Food items that contain hot peppers, jalapenos, paprika and cayenne pepper should strictly be restricted during typhoid as they result in inflammation of the intestines, which degrades health condition.
- Fatty Foods — Oily and processed foods like doughnuts, mozzarella sticks, fried chicken, potato chips and onion rings suppress the digestive system. Henceforth, consuming these foods increases digestive complications during Typhoid.
Foods to Include in Typhoid
- Broken Wheat — It can be included as a porridge that can help in recovering from weakness during typhoid as it is a dense carbohydrate food that contains a good amounts of protein that help in easy digestion and coping up from weakness in individuals suffering from typhoid.
- Bananas — They are highly nutritious, wholesome with important nutrients like potassium and Vitamin C. Adding them into the diet can provide the body with more energy and antioxidants to overcome typhoid symptoms. Henceforth, these are included in high-calorie diets and thus can be beneficial for typhoid patients in gaining weight.
- Watermelon and Grapes — These fruits not only have good amounts of nutrients like Vitamin C, A and B6 that help in lowering the temperature of typhoid fever But also have a high content of water, making it easy to digest. They are beneficial in restoring the water content in the body that might have been disrupted due to dehydration in typhoid patients. Henceforth, these fruits or fruits juice should be included in the daily diet of a typhoid patient.
- Yogurt — It is one of the best probiotic foods containing bifidobacteria that improves bloating and disturbed bowel movements which is beneficial in improving health and overcoming many illnesses.
- Coconut Water — It is low in calories and sugar, boosting the electrolytes like potassium, magnesium and sodium which are beneficial in replenishing the lost nutrients during typhoid.
Symptoms of Typhoid
- Fever that starts low and increases throughout the day, possibly reaching as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius)
- Chills
- Headache
- Weakness and fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Rash
Dietary Recommendations
- Consume 4–5 small frequent meals instead of 2–3 big portion meals.
- Consume maximum of semi-liquid food items during typhoid as these food items are easy to digest and relieve digestive distress.
- Include highly nutritious soups such as vegetables, chicken, spinach, carrot and mushroom.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water after it has been boiled or filtered. Additionally, include herbal teas for hydration as they have antimicrobial properties.
- Include boiled vegetables as they are easy to digest and highly nutritious.
- Include honey to your diet to meet sugar requirements in your body during typhoid as it’s antimicrobial properties help ease the digestive system when consumed with warm water.
The main factor behind getting infected with typhoid is by drinking or eating the bacteria in contaminated food or water. Though diet changes are not the only ideal way to treat typhoid fever, it can surely help in reducing typhoid symptoms. Henceforth, diet in typhoid should not just focus on digestive distress but it should also provide sufficient energy for the proper functioning of body.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/typhoid-fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20378661
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/typhoid
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/typhoid-diet
