Typhoid fever is an illness most commonly found in the
developing world and affects about 12.5 million people each
year. It is a life threatening and caused by the bacterium
Salmonella Typhi, which belongs to the Salmonella group. The
typhoid fever bacteria is carried in the bloodstream and
intestinal tract of infected persons. A small number of persons,
called carriers, recover from the fever but continue to carry
the bacteria. Both ill persons and carriers shed the bacteria in
their faeces. You can get typhoid fever if you eat food or drink
beverages that have been contaminated by a person who is
shedding the bacteria or if sewage contaminated with the
bacteria gets into the water you use for drinking or washing
food. Persons with typhoid fever usually have a sustained fever
as high as 39° or 40° C. They will also feel weak, have stomach
pains, headache and loss of appetite. In some cases, patients
have a rash of flat, rose-colored spots. Treatment: Typhoid
fever is usually treated with antibiotics and thos