Typhoid fever, also known simply as typhoid, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. Humans are the only carriers of S. typhi. It is transmitted mainly through contaminated food and water, or by direct contact with an infected person.
The disease spreads more easily in poor sanitary and epidemiological conditions, especially when hygiene standards are not followed (this is the so-called dirty hands disease), during natural disasters (e.g. floods) or when water is contaminated due to failures in water and sewage networks. The bacteria that cause typhoid are resistant to stomach acid. Once in the small intestine, they penetrate the epithelium and then spread through the lymphatic or blood system.
Typhoid symptoms usually appear 5 to 21 days after infection. The disease is characterised by a gradual rise in body temperature, abdominal pain, headache and tiredness. In the second week, symptoms include: fever up to 39-40°C, apathy, increased headache, loss of appetite, bloating, insomnia, constipation, sometimes diarrhoea, cough, enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes, rash on the body and abdomen in the form of small pale pink spots. In the third week, symptoms may include reduced mobility, intestinal bleeding, perforation of the small intestine, heart muscle damage and meningoencephalitis. It is also possible to develop septic shock, which requires hospitalisation for treatment.
Who should be vaccinated?
Vaccination against typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi is particularly recommended for:
- people travelling to countries where typhoid fever is endemic, such as Thailand, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Egypt, Madagascar, Tunisia, Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Cape Verde, China, the Cayman Islands, Morocco or Mauritius;
- municipal workers;
- in natural disasters where access to clean water is difficult.
Vaccination is recommended for adults, teenagers and children over 2 years of age.
Vaccination procedure
The vaccine is administered either intramuscularly or subcutaneously.
One dose of the vaccine is sufficient to provide immunity.
The vaccination procedure is the same for adults and children. The duration of vaccination protection is approximately 1-3 weeks after administration and lasts for about 3 years.
Vaccination should be repeated every 3 years if the vaccinated person is still at risk of infection.
The vaccine can be given in combination (but at separate injection sites) with vaccines against: yellow fever, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rabies, meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis A or C, and hepatitis A and B.
Post-vaccination reactions often include mild symptoms such as soreness at the injection site, muscle aches, tiredness and headache. Most reactions disappear on their own within 1 to 3 days.
Contraindications include:
- Age under 2 years;
- Acute illness with fever (until recovery);
- Hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine.
The use of vaccines in pregnant women is not recommended due to the limited information available.
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IMPORTANT! Vaccination protects against infection by Salmonella typhi but not against infection by Salmonella paratyphi A or B or non-typhoidal Salmonella. Therefore, vaccinated people should still follow hygiene standards and take care when consuming food and water in regions where typhoid fever is common.
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Make sure you book your vaccination appointment within 3 months of the date shown on your order confirmation. |
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IMPORTANT! Vaccination requires qualification with a travel medicine doctor, during which there may be contraindications to the vaccination or the doctor will suggest a different preparation.
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