Typhoid fever is an illness marked by fever, resulting from an infection with the bacterium Salmonella typhi. It begins gradually, presenting symptoms such as fever, headache, constipation, chills, and muscle pain. Diarrhea is rare, and vomiting tends to be mild. In severe instances, confusion, intestinal perforation, and even death may occur. The disease spreads through water or food that has been contaminated. Major outbreaks are typically associated with fecal contamination of water supplies or street-vended foods. About 5 percent of cases result in a chronic carrier state, where the organism is shed for over a year. Vaccination is advised for those traveling to high-risk areas like the Indian subcontinent and developing nations in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, where there is extended exposure to potentially contaminated food and beverages. However, typhoid vaccination does not offer full protection and should not replace cautious food and drink choices.
