Typhoid

Typhoid FAQ 

 What is typhoid? 

Typhoid — sometimes known as typhoid fever — is an infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi.  

What are the symptoms? 

Symptoms include prolonged high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea. Some people with typhoid may also develop a rash. Severe cases may lead to serious complications, like intestinal perforations, and death. 

How quickly does a person experience symptoms after infection? 

For people who become sick after exposure to S. Typhi, symptoms usually develop 1-2 weeks after infection, though not all people with typhoid have symptoms.  

How does a person get infected with typhoid? 

Typhoid spreads through ingestion of contaminated food or water and not via direct person-to-person contact. Contamination often occurs in areas with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure.  

Where have cases of typhoid been found? 

Typhoid is a global disease, but areas that typically see the highest burden of cases are in Africa and South Asia. As of 2019, an estimated 9-11 million people get sick with typhoid and approximately 110,000 people die from it each year. 

Is there a treatment for typhoid? 

Typhoid is typically treated with antibiotics, however, rising antimicrobial resistance, including multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains of typhoid, have made treatment more difficult in some regions. Supportive care, such as oral or intravenous hydration, and in severe cases, surgical intervention, may be needed depending on the complications.  

Is there a vaccine to protect against typhoid? 

There are currently three classes of typhoid vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization – typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs), Ty21a, and Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccines (ViCPS). 

TCVs are generally preferred — they provide strong protection for at least four years, are suitable for children six months and older, and only require one dose to be effective. Some countries recommend vaccination for children. Some travelers may receive a typhoid vaccine as well, though it is not typically the TCV.