Question

Typhoid is transmitted through
a. Mucous
b. Faecal-oral route
c. Sexual contact
d. Blood transfusion

Answer 1

Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria Salmonella typhi. We know that prevention of a disease or infection from affecting the masses is important. To control the infection we should analyse the ways through which it is transmitted from one person to another.

Complete answer:
- The symptoms of typhoid fever include fever, abdominal pain, headache, loss of appetite, weakness etc.
- The faeces of the infected person contains the bacteria. If they did not wash their hands carefully after passing stools, the pathogenic bacteria might persist in their hand, which contaminates the food and water touched by them. It can also be transmitted when the contaminated sewage water comes in contact with the drinking water.
- The bacteria enters the body of the host through food and water contaminated with the bacteria. Once entered, they start multiplying and cause these symptoms.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Additional information:
Not all the people exposed to the bacteria will show symptoms. The asymptomatic people will continue to excrete Salmonella in their stools even after a year, which further transmits the infection. To prevent the spread of typhoid, one should maintain proper sanitation, wash hands frequently and eat clean food and water. Fortunately, typhoid vaccines are developed which can be administered either orally or through injection.

Note: Oral rehydration and antibiotics usually treat typhoid. However, there is an alarming increase in antibiotic resistance expressed by typhoid bacteria. They are called multi-drug resistant typhoid. The infection can be diagnosed through blood, faecal or bone marrow samples. Currently, rapid testing kits such as tubex test and typhidot are available for detection.