Adults have typhus, what to do?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Nguyen Tung Hoanh- Department of Resuscitation - Emergency - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Typhus is caused by the virus HHV6 (Human Herpes 6) or HHV7 (Human Herpes 7) which causes a high fever and a rash. Children are the main victims of the disease because their immune systems are not fully developed. However, immunocompromised or immunocompromised adults are also susceptible to typhus.

1. Typhus in adults

Typhus is caused by a virus with typical symptoms such as: high fever, erythema on the skin, fatigue... Besides HHV6 (Human Herpes 6) or HHV7 (Human Herpes 7), other types Respiratory viruses that cause measles, rubella ... can also cause typhus.
Children are the main victims of typhus, but adults are also at risk if they are exposed to the virus, especially those with weakened immune systems. When infected with typhus, infected adults can infect young children as well as their contacts. Usually, every person will get typhus at least once in their life.

Symptoms of typhus in adults are often milder than in children and are easily confused with other infectious diseases such as measles, dengue fever, viral fever... In particular, the incubation period usually lasts from 1-2 weeks, when there are external symptoms such as high fever, body aches, runny nose, rash... the source of the disease could have spread and spread before.

2. Symptoms of typhus in adults

The incubation period for typhus in adults can be as long as 2 weeks and as long as 6-9 weeks when symptoms are present. Symptoms of typhus include:
High fever: People with typhus can have a fever above 39 degrees Celsius along with other symptoms such as runny nose, headache, cough, conjunctivitis... Rash : The rash resembles a red or blotchy skin rash that may be raised or flat. The rash appears many times on the chest, abdomen, back, arms, and legs. face... The rash may go away after a few hours or last up to several days. Swollen lymph nodes: Typhus in adults can cause swollen lymph nodes in the neck and jaw area because the immune system reacts to the virus entering the body. Other symptoms: People with typhus may feel tired, loss of appetite, weakness, mild diarrhea, dehydration, swollen eyelids, sore throat, earache, cough, high fever convulsions.. When there are signs of severe disease, the patient should be taken to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment, to avoid dangerous complications.

3. Complications of typhus in adults

Mild typhus usually subsides after a few days of rash and does not cause serious complications. Symptoms such as fever gone after the rash, no signs of visceral instability, normal heart and lungs, no bleeding in urine and stools, pus, stable blood pressure... are considered mild. Don't worry about complications.
In the case of severe typhus, the most recognizable complications include:

Persistent high fever, which can reach over 40 degrees Celsius, does not respond to antipyretics and conventional antipyretic methods. Shortness of breath, rapid breathing, labored breathing. Sleep a lot, lethargy, deep coma. The rash is widespread. In people with compromised immune systems, for example, those who have recently received a bone marrow or organ transplant for a short time can cause dangerous complications due to an unstable immune system. Immunocompromised people are more susceptible to viral infections, and the treatment time for typhus is also longer. Potential complications include pneumonia or encephalitis.

4. Treatment of typhus in adults

When noticing the symptoms of typhus in adults, the disease can be treated in the following ways:
Reduce fever by wiping cool, using antipyretic drugs as prescribed by the doctor. Make sure the body does not catch cold, maintain body hygiene, especially during the period of having a rash. Limit contact in crowded places to avoid disease transmission. Increase rest, supplement with adequate nutrition to quickly recover the body, increase resistance. Do not self-medicate at home, especially for patients with a previous medical history or surgery that need to be used under the guidance of a doctor. Patients with typhus can return to work and activities 24 hours after the fever is gone and the symptoms are relieved.

Currently, there is no cure for typhus in adults and children. The best way to protect the body is to avoid contact with sick people with symptoms of typhus as well as other infectious respiratory diseases; Limit going to crowded places during an epidemic; Nutritional supplementation and reasonable rest to strengthen the body's resistance and protection... Typhoid fever in adults is usually benign, but patients should not be subjective, neglect, need to closely monitor the symptoms. disease symptoms for appropriate treatment.
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