Typhoid Fever

Infection with the Salmonella typhi bacteria causes typhoid fever. It is transmitted from human to human via contaminated food or water.

Symptoms:

Typhoid fever causes high fevers of up to 103 to 104° F. Other symptoms include weakness, abdominal cramps, and loss of appetite. Some people may experience a light red, blotchy rash.

Prevention:

The same handwashing and general food and water precautions as for TD are the best means to prevent typhoid fever. For guidelines, see Traveler’s Diarrhea: Prevention.

Treatment:

Antibiotic treatment regimens in our Pharmaceutical Guide. Although we have provided treatment regimens, if you suspect typhoid fever you most likely will require medical intervention. A doctor can do a stool study to confirm the diagnosis. Left untreated, typhoid fever has a mortality rate as high as 20 percent. Once the infection is treated, however, the infected person feels better in two to three days, but may remain contagious to others. If you have had typhoid fever and recovered, see a doctor who can do a stool study to confirm that you have expelled all of the typhoid bacteria from your body. For additional information, visit the Center for Disease Control site.