Typhoid

Disease and transmission - Typhoid is contracted by ingesting food and water contaminated by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. It is passed in the faeces of the person who is ill and enters the food chain or can be passed by a lack of hand washing after using the toilet.

Symptoms – May include fever, headache, chills, muscle ache, nausea, abdominal discomfort, rash, enlarged liver or spleen. If not treated it can lead onto very serious complications.

Prevention – Following good food and water precautions, as well as good hand and personal hygiene helps prevent infection (see food and water precautions and hand and personal hygiene leaflets) . There is also a vaccine which gives protection for 3 years.

Treatment – Typhoid can be successfully treated with appropriate antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is increasingly common so it important for the right antibiotic be used as advised by a healthcare professional.

Further information https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/disease/184/typhoid-fever