Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. Typhoid fever is still common in the developing world, where it affects about 12.5 million persons each year.
Salmonella Typhi lives only in humans. People with typhoid fever carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract. In addition, a small number of persons called carriers, recover from typhoid fever but continue to carry the bacteria. Both ill persons and carriers shed S. Typhi in their faeces (stool).

Manifestations: Persons with typhoid fever usually have a sustained:

• Fever as high as 39° to 40° C (103° to 104° F )
• Malaise
• Abdominal pains
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Rash of flat, rose-colored spots.

Diagnose and treatment: The only way to know for sure if an illness is typhoid fever is to have samples of stool or blood tested for the presence of S. Typhi. Treatment with antibiotics is available.

Vaccine is effective

Prevent typhoid fever by:

• Drink canned water
• Carbonated water is safer than uncarbonated water
• Ask for drinks without ice
• Avoid popsicles and flavoured ices that may have been made with contaminated water
• Eat foods that have been thoroughly cooked and that are still hot and steaming
• Avoid raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled
• Vegetables like lettuce are easily contaminated and are very hard to wash well
• Eat raw fruit or vegetables that can be peeled, peel them yourself. (Wash your hands with soap first.) Do not eat the peelings
• Avoid foods and beverages from street vendors. It is difficult for food to be kept clean on the street, and many travellers get sick from food bought from street vendors

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