Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a bacterial disease, caused by Salmonella typhi.

It is transmitted through the ingestion of food or drink contaminated by the faeces or urine of infected people.

The organism is then spread via the lymphatics while inside the macrophages.

Symptoms usually develop 1–3 weeks after exposure, and may be mild or severe. They include high fever, malaise, headache, constipation or diarrhoea, rose-coloured spots on the chest, and enlarged spleen and liver.

Typhoid fever can be treated with antibiotics. However, resistance to common antimicrobials is widespread.