A Pharmacist, Dr. Angela Opoku-Bona has warned of the likely increase in typhoid fever cases due to the consumption of contaminated fresh vegetables.
She believes most vegetables such as cabbage; lettuce and onions on the market are irrigated with water from river bodies polluted with human faeces or unwholesome water.
In an interview with Nana Konadu Okontie on Plan B FM ‘Apomuden Fie’ Dr. Angela Opoku said the contamination has contributed to increase in typhoid cases, which is a life-threatening bacterial infection.
“Typhoid Fever which is usually contracted from contaminated food and water has symptoms similar to those of malaria with difficult treatment. This is mainly due to the fact that its causative agent has developed multiple resistance against antibiotics, the main known medication. Typhoid fever can be contracted through the consumption of contaminated food and water, uncleanliness and disregard for basic hygiene. Untreated typhoid may result in heart muscle inflammation and intestinal perforation and psychiatric problems like delirium, paranoia, and hallucination over time,” Dr Opoku-Bona remarked.
She added that, skin rashes, abdominal pain, nose bleeding, uncomfortable mood changes, bloody stools and gastrointestinal bleeding are some of the symptoms of typhoid fever.
Dr. Angela Opoku-Bona advised the public to wash their food thoroughly to avoid contracting the disease and also exposed faeces must be a thing of the past.
She indicated that foods exposed to such conditions should be avoided and any sign of excessive body and abdominal pains and diarrhoea must be taken seriously, as these are the common signs associated with the disease.
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