Typhoid Fever is caused by a bacteria that is usually spread when the faeces or urine from an infected person contaminates food or water. It can also be spread by flying insects which have fed on contaminated faeces. When travelling in endemic areas, be especially careful when consuming:

• raw fruit
• raw vegetables
• milk
• other dairy products
• seafood
• water

Symptoms of Typhoid Fever

Some people present no or very mild symptoms so it is important to see your doctor immediately if you suspect you may have Typhoid Fever. There is a wide range of possible symptoms which may or may not include the following:

• sustained fever
• severe headache
• constipation
• chills
• sore throat
• nausea
• abdominal pain
• skin rash
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• enlarged liver

Treatment for Typhoid Fever

Antibiotics are used to treat Typhoid and prompt treatment reduces the fatality rate to around 1%. However, left untreated, the fatality rate is around 10% to 30%.

Typhoid Fever Vaccination

Prevention is the best cure so it is advised to avoid consuming potentially contaminated food and water in high risk, unsanitary areas. In such high risk areas, you may wish to only consume bottled water, even when cooking and when brushing teeth.

If you will be travelling to a country where the disease is endemic, you may wish to get vaccinated against Typhoid Fever. This can be achieved by a simple injection, giving you immunity for 3 years. It is important to note that the vaccine doesn’t give 100% immunity so good hygiene is essential while travelling.

High Risk Destinations

Typhoid Fever is rarely found in developed countries. High risk areas include any endemic regions where environmental hygiene is poor and drinking water is unsafe. This includes certain regions of:

• Asia (especially India)
• Africa (north and west)
• South America (especially Peru)