Typhoid fever is a serious bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body, impacting multiple organs, and can be fatal if not treated.
It’s caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, which is related to the bacteria causing salmonella food poisoning.
The infection is highly contagious. Infected individuals excrete the bacteria in their stool and sometimes urine.
Consuming even a small amount of food or water contaminated with this infected waste can lead to typhoid fever.
Who is at Risk?
Typhoid fever is most prevalent in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. Children are especially vulnerable, likely due to their developing immune systems, though their symptoms often tend to be milder than adults’.
Symptoms of Typhoid Fever
Key symptoms include:
- A persistent high fever that increases daily
- Headaches
- General body aches and discomfort
- Extreme fatigue
- Cough
- Constipation
As the infection advances, symptoms can worsen, leading to loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. A rash might also appear in some cases. Without treatment, these symptoms can intensify over several weeks, raising the risk of severe, life-threatening complications.
