You can get this illness from the food you eat and the water you drink

Photo Credits: Sabin, Doctor Alert

Name
Typhoid fever

Transmission

• A serious illness caused by a bacteria called Salmonella Typhi that can spread throughout the body and affect many organs
• The Salmonella Typhi bacteria live in humans (in the bloodstream and intestinal tract) and exit the body in the feces of infected people
• The bacteria spread when others eat food or drink liquids that have been handled by an infected person and are contaminated with Salmonella Typhi
• The bacteria can also spread if sewage contaminated with Salmonella Typhi gets into the water used for drinking or washing food
  • This pollution of water sources often results in typhoid fever epidemics when large numbers of people use the same water source

Geography
Worldwide

• Common in most countries except industrialized nations such as United States, Canada, western Europe, Australia, and Japan
• Highest risk is in south Asia

Incubation Period
6 – 30 days after infection

Signs and Symptoms

• Fever
• Weakness
• Rash
• Stomach pains
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Constipation (more common in older children and adults)
• Diarrhea (more common in younger children)

Diagnosis
Laboratory testing of blood or feces samples to identify the bacteria

Treatment

• It can usually be treated with antibiotics
• Sometimes treatment lasts 4 to 6 weeks

Prognosis

• Without treatment, people may continue to have a fever for weeks or months, and as many as 20% may die from complications of the infection
  • Complications include intestinal bleeding, pneumonia, meningitis, hallucinations, and sepsis
• Around 2–5% of those recovered become chronic carriers of the bacteria, as the bacteria continue to live in their bodies even after symptoms have resolved
  • In these cases, the illness can return and they can continue to infect others with the bacteria

Prevention: What Can You Do?

• Washing your hands, ensuring food is properly cooked, and maintaining a clean supply of water are important ways to prevent infection
• There is a vaccine and it is recommended if you are traveling to a country where typhoid is common
  • The vaccine is not 100% effective so in addition you need to be careful with what you eat and drink

Typhoid In the News

• Typhoid Fever: Merciless Killer On The Rise
• Typhoid outbreak confirmed
• 10 Things You May Not Know About “Typhoid Mary”

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/typhoid-fever/
http://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/typhoid/en/