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Information on Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. It's highly contagious and is transmitted by ingesting food or water that's contaminated with the bacteria.

  1. Symptoms

    • The most characteristic symptom of typhoid fever is a high persistent fever that can reach 104 degrees F. Other common symptoms include diarrhea, gastric upset and heavy sweating.

    Diagnosis

    • The Widal test is a presumptive test for typhoid fever. It uses antigens to detect the presence of salmonella antibodies in blood or stool samples. Typhoid fever may also be diagnosed by culturing Salmonella typhi from these samples.

    Treatment

    • Ciprofloxacin is generally the preferred treatment for typhoid fever. In cases of a resistant strain of Salmonella typhi, a third-generation cephalosporin such as ceftriaxone is the recommended treatment.

    Resistance

    • Salmonella typhi is a highly adaptive species and can quickly become resistant to a particular antibiotic. Stains that are resistant to multiple antibiotics are becoming more common.

    Prevention

    • Proper sanitation is the most effective method of preventing the spread of typhoid fever. There are also vaccines against typhoid fever available for travelers to endemic areas.

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