Typhoid

Typhoid is a serious systemic infection caused by a gram negative bacteria, Salmonella enterica serotype typhi.

Transmission

• Transmitted by the faecal-oral route by consumption of food and drink that has been contaminated with faeces or urine from a human case or carrier; direct faecal oral contamination can also occur.

Vaccine schedule

Typhoid Vaccine

Oral Typhoid Vaccine

Hepatitis A + Typhoid combined

Epidemiology

• Typhoid occurs predominantly in countries where environmental health and hygiene standards are poor and water or food supplies are liable to contamination by sewage. Sporadic cases of typhoid can also occur in non-endemic countries following importation or failure in hygiene processes.
• Areas of highest risk to travellers are found in South Asia. Risk to travellers is generally lower in the rest of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

MAP OF RISK AREAS - typhoid

Signs and symptoms

• Incubation - 1 to 3 weeks depending on host factors and size of infecting dose.

Mild

• Fever
• Constipation (usually older children and adults) or sometimes diarrhoea (in younger children).
• Abdominal pain, loss of appetite.
• Myalgia and headache.
• Faint pink rose spot rash can occasionally be seen.

Severe

• Disseminated disease with multi organ involvement.
• Intestinal perforation.
• Meningitis.
• Shock.

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