What does typhoid feel like?

One of the overseas immunizations we needed before going to Tanzania was Typhoid.  Of all the immunizations we received, this one hit me the worst.  I had the classic side-effects: fever, headache, abdominal discomfort and cramping, nausea, yuck!

Salmonella Typhi bacteria

But that's nothing compared to actually contracting the disease.  The CDC says,

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi.  Typhoid fever is still common in the developing world, where it affects about 21.5 million persons each year.  Salmonella Typhi lives only in humans. Persons with typhoid fever carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract. In addition, a small number of persons, called carriers, recover from typhoid fever but continue to carry the bacteria. Both ill persons and carriers shed Salmonella Typhi in their feces (stool).

You can get typhoid fever if you eat food or drink beverages that have been handled by a person who is shedding Salmonella Typhi or if sewage contaminated with Salmonella Typhi bacteria gets into the water you use for drinking or washing food. Therefore, typhoid fever is more common in areas of the world where handwashing is less frequent and water is likely to be contaminated with sewage. 

 Here's where it gets personal for us moving to Africa.

One study estimates that in Africa there are 50 cases per 100,000 people, predominantly in young school-aged children.  However, another study conducted in East Africa revealed 650 cases per 100,000 people, again mostly children under ten years of age.

What is the best way to prevent typhoid?
Clean water, hygiene and good sanitation.

It's that easy.

One of the great benefits of language development work in a community is the ability to translate training materials for local officials to use.  We can translate information about health and hygiene into the heart language of people and help prevent the spread of typhoid.  How exciting!!




http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/typhoid_fever/#vaccinated
http://www.jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19745521/77
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/typhoid/en/