People know the story of Typhoid Mary. According to newspapers and books written on Mary Mallon, the woman caused a typhoid outbreak in the United States. The outbreak happened in the 1900s and three people, out of the fifty-four Mary infected, died (Brooks 916). Mary Mallon was a cook in many the homes of some of the rich people in those days. In fact, her work at a rich man’s house led to the discovery that she is a carrier of Salmonella Typhi, the bacterium that causes typhoid (Brooks 916). The discovery happened because one of the children in the house tested positive to typhoid fever. The doctor asked Mary to have her gall bladder removed or stop cooking (Brooks 916), but she refused. Later the government forced Mary into isolation to protect the rest of the community. However, the people did not have the proper equipment and laboratories to determine the necessity of Mary's isolation.
This research paper will look at the causes and effects of the typhoid fever and the signs of the disease that doctors and the public should look for in a suspected patient. Through looking at the causes and effects of typhoid fever, it is possible to know the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.
The bacteria Salmonella Typhi causes typhoid fever. The World Health Organization (WHO) gives the definition of typhoid originating from the signs and symptoms of the disease. Therefore, typhoid is a disease “characterized by prolonged fever, disturbances of bowel function (constipation in adults, diarrhea in children), headache, malaise, and anorexia” (WHO 2). When a person has salmonella typhi in their body system, they can infect other people through food and water. Therefore, the first cause of contamination by salmonella typhi is eating unhygienic food. The second cause is taking food that already has the bacterium. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that eating food or drinking water that has salmonella typhi causes typhoid by allowing the bacteria to infect a person (1). For example, because typhoid can cause diarrhea, salmonella typhi can be in sewage water after people use their toilets. If a mistake happens and exposes the sewage to drinking water then, people will be in trouble. Because typhoid is partly a waterborne disease, anybody who drinks the water will get the illness.
When the bacterium enters the body, it does not show any symptoms for a while. They take a while to multiply and affect the whole body (WHO 2). In other words, when a person is exposed to the typhoid causing bacteria, the amount is too small to cause any problems. However, when the bacteria begin to multiply, it spreads to the whole body and causes different problems to the patient. The problems or symptoms include high fever and other indicators aforementioned in the definition. Nevertheless, to prove a person has typhoid, a diagnosis is necessary. A diagnosis of typhoid fever must have “the isolation of S. typhi from blood, bone marrow or a specific anatomical lesion” (WHO 7). Because the transmission of typhoid is fast, all populations are at risk of contracting the disease. However, there are vaccinations that doctors provide to prevent an infection by salmonella typhi. Therefore, vaccinations can prevent typhoid outbreaks by cutting the chain of transmission. On the other hand, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention argues that there are countries that are safe from the disease. Said countries include, “industrialized regions such as the United States, Canada, western Europe, Australia, and Japan” (CDC 1) because they are not at risk of typhoid outbreaks. However, the organization adds that people living and travelling to developing countries should get vaccinated (CDC 1).
The prognosis of a disease refers to “An opinion, based on medical experience, of the likely course of a medical condition” (Oxford English Dictionary). After proper diagnosis, the prognosis of typhoid fever depends on reasons. Some factors include the type of treatment, the time at which a patient begins his or her treatment, and the presence or absence of complications (CDC 3). If a patient has a minor typhoid infection without complications, the effects of the illness include a fever, diarrhea or constipation, headaches, depression, lack of appetite, and coughing (WHO 2). On the other hand, “Depending on the clinical setting and the quality of available medical care, up to 10% of typhoid patients may develop serious complications” (WHO 2). Consequently, all the effects of a minor infection will be present but will be stronger and more complicated. For example, the bowel movements will increase, meaning more trips to the washroom for the patient. The pulse rate of such a patient will also increase as their system tries to fight off the bacteria. In the cases of depression or malaise, patients can show symptoms of madness (WHO 2). When a complicated case gains more complications, there is “internal bleeding, pneumonia, or different forms of hepatitis” (WHO 2). To prevent the patient’s death and possible outbreaks of typhoid, it is important for patients to get treatment as soon as possible.
Another effect of typhoid fever is the need to seek medical attention. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention narrows down the cure of typhoid to antibiotics including, “ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin” (3). When a person fails to take his or her treatment immediately after diagnosis, then complications may occur. Apparently, almost twenty percent of patients that develop complications can die from the disease (CDC 3). In addition, another effect, and in some cases cause, of a typhoid fever is epidemics of the disease. For a disease to cause an epidemic, it has to have high incidences in a given population within a specific period (Oxford English Dictionary). If a person lives in a typhoid epidemic ridden area, he, or she can get an infection thus providing an indirect cause of the illness. On the other hand, when a person infected by the bacterium spreads it to other people, it is an effect of typhoid fever. Because the Salmonella typhi bacterium is transmittable via water and food, it is no wonder that epidemics are possible without proper sanitation. The World Health Organization gives a good example of an epidemic in African countries (27). With the fact that the Salmonella typhi bacterium is transmittable via water and food, it is no wonder that epidemics are possible without proper sanitation.
There are prevention measures that people and governments can put in place. First, there are vaccinations that doctors can provide to every person who is at risk of infection (WHO 28). For instance, travelers to areas that can harbor salmonella typhi can be perfect candidates for the vaccination. On the other hand, proper hygiene can help prevent typhoid fever. According to the Center for Disease Control, “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it” is a good motto to prevent the disease (2). In other words, unless food is boiled or cooked to kill possible bacteria, a person should then peel it to prevent infections.
In conclusion, the United States government of 1907 took the right step in isolating Typhoid Mary. Despite their lack of proper knowledge about typhoid, their methods of controlling further infections were correct. In addition, the World Health Organization proves that the gall bladder holds the bacterium salmonella typhi (28). The story informing of Mary Mallon’s isolation was more than necessary (Brooks 916).
Works Cited
Brooks, Janet. "The Sad and Tragic Life of Typhoid Mary." Canadian Medical Association Journal (1996): 915-916. Print.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Typhoid. Publication. Atlanta: Department of Health and Human Services, 2005. Print.
Stevenson, Angus. Oxford Dictionary of English. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.
The World Health Organization. Background document: The diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of typhoid fever. Publication. Geneva: The Department of Vaccines and Biologicals, 2003. Print.
