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Typhoid fever
12 May 2020 | Q&A
WHO
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi.
It is usually spread through contaminated food or water.
Symptoms include prolonged fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhoea. Some patients may have a rash. Severe cases may lead to serious complications or even death.
Typhoid fever can be treated with antibiotics although increasing resistance to different types of antibiotics is making treatment more complicated.
Even when the symptoms go away, people may still be carrying typhoid bacteria, meaning they can spread it to others through their faeces.
An estimated 11–21 million people get sick from typhoid and between 128 000 and 161 000 people die from it every year. Communities lacking accupess to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, and vulnerable groups including children are at highest risk.