Typhoid fever

Where it occurs

Prevalent in Asia, Africa, Latin America, with over 20 million cases annually. It is rare elsewhere.

Infection

Typhoid fever results from infection of your intestines by a bacteria called salmonella typhi. This thrives in faeces, sewage and contaminated water and is normally transmitted when food is eaten or water drunk which has been contaminated by someone carrying the infection. Generally speaking, with food the danger comes from on-street vendors or restaurant workers who have not washed their hands properly after using the toilet and transfer the bacteria onto food they prepare for you. In some areas the water supply may become contaminated with sewage which the local filtration system does not eliminate, allowing the bacteria to reach you via a tap or water bottle filled from a tap.

Symptoms

The symptoms appear one-three weeks after infection. They are often mild with nothing more than a slightly raised temperature, headache, sickness and a short bout of diarrhoea. However, they can be much more severe and include a high temperature, severe headaches, prolonged diarrhoea, rose-coloured spots on your body and enlargement of your spleen and liver. Death is rare but does occur in some cases.

Treatment

The illness can usually be treated successfully with a course of anti-biotics