Typhoid Fever
What is typhoid fever?
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection of the intestinal tract and occasionally
the bloodstream. It is an uncommon disease with only 30 - 50 cases occurring
in New York each year. Most of the cases are acquired during foreign travel
to underdeveloped countries. The germ that causes typhoid is a unique
human strain of salmonella called Salmonella typhi. Outbreaks are rare.
Who gets typhoid fever?
Anyone can get typhoid fever but the greatest risk exists to travelers
visiting countries where the disease is common. Occasionally, local cases
can be traced to exposure to a person who is a chronic carrier.
How is the germ spread?
Typhoid germs are passed in the feces and, to some extent, the urine
of infected people. The germs are spread by eating or drinking water or
foods contaminated by feces from the infected individual.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may be mild or severe and may include fever, headache, constipation
or diarrhea, rose-colored spots on the trunk and an enlarged spleen and
liver. Relapses are common. Fatalities are less than 1 percent with antibiotic
treatment.
How soon do symptoms appear?
Symptoms generally appear one to three weeks after exposure.
For how long can an infected person carry the typhoid germ?
The carrier stage varies from a number of days to years. Only about
3 percent of cases go on to become lifelong carriers of the germ and this
tends to occur more often in adults than in children.
How is typhoid treated?
Specific antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, ampicillin or ciprofloxacin
are often used to treat cases of typhoid.
Should infected people be isolated?
Because the germ is passed in the feces of infected people, only people
with active diarrhea who are unable to control their bowel habits (infants,
certain handicapped individuals) should be isolated. Most infected people
may return to work or school when they have recovered, provided that they
carefully wash hands after toilet visits. Children in day care and other
sensitive settings must obtain the approval of the local or state health
department before returning to their routine activities. Food handlers
may not return to work until three consecutive negative stool cultures
are confirmed.
Is there a vaccine for typhoid?
A vaccine is available but is generally reserved for people traveling
to underdeveloped countries where significant exposure may occur. Strict
attention to food and water precautions while traveling to such countries
is the most effective preventive method.
Source: NY State Department of Health
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