Typhoid Fever

Typboid fever is a bacterial infection that is common in many parts of the world. It is spread by contaminated water and food and primarily affects the digestive system.

What Is Typhoid?

In many developing countries, typhoid fever is a major problem. An estimated 16 million are infected and more than 500,000 die each year worldwide. The disease is especially common in parts of Asia, Africa, and South America where pure water is not readily available and sewage treatment is inadequate. In many countries, children are the most likely to get typhoid.

Typhoid used to be a serious problem in the United States as well. Early in the twentieth century, before clean water supplies and sewage systems to dispose of human waste were widely available, about 35,000 people contracted typhoid fever each year. Technological advancements in sewage and water treatment made typhoid fever rare in industrialized countries. Only about 400 cases are reported each year in the United States. In most of these cases, the individuals had acquired the disease while traveling abroad.

What Causes Typhoid Fever?

Typhoid fever is caused by a bacterium called Salmonella typhi. It is related to the salmonella bacteria that cause food poisoning, but they are not exactly the same.

Salmonella typhi bacteria are present in the solid wastes (stool) of infected people, including some "healthy carriers" who have no symptoms of illness. The bacteria can spread if human waste gets into water that is used for drinking, irrigating crops, or washing food. Typhoid is also occasionally transmitted through an infected person who is working in food preparation. Once swallowed, the bacteria move from the digestive tract into the bloodstream and then to the liver, spleen, gall bladder, and lymph nodes.