Typhoid fever is spread through bacteria found in food, water and human contact, but malaria is spread by mosquitoes.
Typhoid fever and malaria are caused by parasites; typhoid fever comes about after contact with Salmonella typhi bacteria, and malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes. Both are infectious diseases that can lead to death, and both can be found in underdeveloped, tropical locations. They also share symptoms such as high fever, headache and diarrhea, with typhoid fever becoming increasingly serious over time.
Causes
These oft-confused illnesses have different sources, but they can thrive in similar locations. Typhoid fever usually is found in unindustrialized countries because the Salmonella typhi bacteria live in unclean water and food. Coincidentally, many of these countries, also referred to as "third-world" nations, are located in the tropics, where mosquitoes are abundant and malaria is a common killer.
Symptoms
In addition to a high fever and diarrhea, those with typhoid fever experience weakness and fatigue, stomach pain and rashes in their first week of illness. Sometimes a patient will suffer constipation instead of diarrhea. The second week sees symptoms worsening, along with weight loss and stomach distention. In the third week, the patient becomes delirious and motionless, entering the typhoid state. In the case of malaria, common occurrences include severe chills, intense cold sweats, nausea and vomiting. According to the Mayo Clinic, sufferers of malaria are more likely to die than those who contract typhoid fever, which can be taken care of in a matter of a few days with antibiotics.
Diagnosis
In the case of either infection, a doctor will consider the patient's travel history. A trip to an area where either disease is endemic (some of them overlapping, of course) is a good indication that such diseases are possibilities. Malaria can be spotted by examining blood samples, but a typhoid fever diagnosis can be more complex. A blood, stool, urine or bone marrow sample is taken and stored in a bacteria-friendly environment for 48 to 72 hours, after which it is checked with a microscope for S. typhi.
Treatment
Malaria is treated with one of several anti-malarial drugs. These drugs, either oral or intravenous, vary in effects, and a doctor will choose one based on age, the type of malaria, where it was contracted and the illness's severity. Typhoid fever is battled with antibiotics, plenty of fluids and a healthy, high-calorie diet. In severe cases, the typhoid fever patient will need intravenous nutrition as well.
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