Summary:
Typhoid fever is an illness caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria. It is rarely seen in developed countries but is still a serious threat to developing countries, especially to children. Typhoid fever is generally not a deadly illness, as most people get better within a few days after starting antibiotics, but some can die of severe complications. The illness can be contracted by consuming contaminated food or water or coming in close contact with someone who has already been exposed to the bacteria. The most common symptoms associated with typhoid fever are, high fever, headache, stomach pain and diarrhea. These signs often don’t develop until about one to three weeks after the exposure so it can be difficult for individuals to realize where their symptoms are coming from.
Description:
The most common way that typhoid fever is spread is through fecal-oral transmission. The bacteria that causes typhoid fever, Salmonella typhi, can travel through feces or urine so it can be easily transmitted if someone does not use proper hand hygiene and then prepares food that you consume. In developing countries, it is common for individuals to become infected through contaminated drinking water. Once exposure is confirmed and symptoms develop, physicians will often prescribe a course of antibiotics. These tend to relieve individuals of their symptoms quickly and successfully get rid of the bacteria. Very few people will continue to carry the bacteria after they recover from typhoid fever but it does occasionally occur. When it does, these individuals are known as “chronic carriers” who still have the ability to spread Salmonella typhi through their feces and urine. Some individuals cannot recover from typhoid fever due to extreme complications like bleeding or holes in the intestine, myocarditis and endocarditis.
Typhoid fever is said to affect nearly 27 million people world-wide each year. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 5,700 people in the United States are effected by typhoid fever each year. Even though their symptoms tend to be less severe than adults, children are at the greatest risk for developing typhoid fever. The most common areas that report establishment of the illness are India, Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. If you live in a country where typhoid fever is not established, there are still potential risks. Even in an unaffected country, the chance of you being exposed to the bacteria increases if you work in or travel to places with known exposures, work in a laboratory environment where Salmonella typhi is present or drink water polluted by sewage.
There are two types of known vaccines for typhoid fever. One of them is given in the form of a shot one week before an individual is traveling. These are commonly administered to people leaving a developed country, where typhoid fever is not established and traveling to possibly a developing country where it is established. The second type of vaccine is given in the form of four oral capsules, one taken every other day. Neither of these vaccines are proven to be 100% effective. In fact, both types require repeat vaccinations because their effectiveness wears off over time. There are many other ways people should protect themselves and others from typhoid fever to make up for the fact that the vaccines do not provide complete protection. Some of these include, practicing proper hand hygiene, avoiding drinking untreated or unclean water, avoiding eating unwashed raw fruits and vegetables and avoiding foods that are stored at room temperature when they should be kept hot.
One of the worst years for typhoid fever in the U.S was 1906-1907. An epidemic occurred in New York infecting about 122 people in the state, five of which died. Authorities traced the exposure to one woman, Mary Mallon. Mary worked as a cook on an estate and in a hospital where she unknowingly spread typhoid fever through the food she prepared. She became known by the press as “Typhoid Mary”. At this time, neither vaccine had been developed for typhoid fever and antibiotics were not abundant. In 1906, the CDC reported a total of 13,160 deaths and 12,670 in 1907. Overall, this was a record number of illness due to the typhoid fever in the United States. This really goes to show the development and importance of medicine in the U.S from this time to now.
News Articles:
This news article discusses the recent typhoid fever outbreak in the Dominican Republic of the Congo (DRC). There have been over one million reported cases with 19,734 confirmed cases. The article says that the death toll in the DRC has reached an astonishing 411. The article gives more information about the typhoid fever and and the common signs and symptoms. Read more at: http://outbreaknewstoday.com/drc-typhoid-tally-tops-1-million-cases-58800/
This news article gives an update on the typhoid fever vaccine development. It discusses the key barriers and problems researchers are running into and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected vaccine development. This article also talks about what other competitors researchers have for updating the typhoid fever vaccine. Read more at: https://energysiren.co.ke/2021/11/10/typhoid-fever-vaccines-market-2021-analysis-and-in-depth-research-on-market-size-trends-emerging-growth-factors-and-forecast-to-2027-sanofi-pasteur-glaxosmithkline-bharat-biotech/
This news article exposes the fact that there may be a rise in a strand of typhoid fever that is difficult to cure. It focuses on a study of 13,000 children who are infected with a multidrug-resistant strand of typhoid fever. It discusses what this means for the future of our health systems. Read more at: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/science-health/drug-resistant-typhoid-cases-rise-say-scientists-3593336
Sources:
“Typhoid Fever”; mayoclinic.org; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/typhoid-fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20378661
“Typhoid Fever and Paratyphoid Fever”; cdc.gov; https://www.cdc.gov/typhoid-fever/index.html
“The Worst Outbreaks in US History”; healthline.com; https://www.healthline.com/health/worst-disease-outbreaks-history
“Typhoid Fever”; webmd.com; https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/typhoid-fever