Typhoid Fever
Medical Author: Jerry Balentine, DO, FACEP
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
What is typhoid fever?
Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever caused by the
Salmonella typhi bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi,
a related bacterium that usually causes a less severe illness. The bacteria
are deposited in water or food by a human carrier and are then spread to
other people in the area.
The incidence of typhoid fever in the United States has markedly decreased
since the early 1900s. Today, less than 500 cases are reported annually in the
United States, mostly in people who recently have traveled to endemic areas.
This is in comparison to the 1920s, when over 35,000 cases were reported in the
U.S. This improvement is the result of improved environmental sanitation. Mexico
and South America are the most common areas for U.S. citizens to contract
typhoid fever. India, Pakistan, and Egypt are also known high-risk areas for
developing this disease. Worldwide, typhoid fever affects more than 13 million
people annually, with over 500,000 patients dying of the disease.
Next: How do patients get typhoid fever? »
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