At its worst typhoid can kill, but others who develop the fever can be left with a host of unpleasant symptoms that can take several months to recover from if left untreated
A Victorian illness that was once easily treated has re-emerged with deadly antibiotic resistance – sparking global health fears as it becomes even harder to cure.
Typhoid fever, caused by contaminated food or water, has been a persistent threat to human populations for millennia. At its worst, it can kill, but others who develop the fever can be left with a host of unpleasant symptoms that can take several months to recover from if left untreated. More than 110,000 people die from typhoid every year, notably across Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Eastern Europe, where sanitation and water quality are poor. But it can spread to new parts of the world, including the UK – with a new extensively drug-resistant strain making the highly contagious disease much harder to control.
According to the NHS, symptoms usually develop 1 or 2 weeks after a person becomes infected with the Salmonella typhi bacteria. With prompt treatment, symptoms of typhoid fever should generally improve within 3 to 5 days.
But if the disease is left untreated, it’ll usually worsen over time, and there’s a significant risk of life-threatening complications developing. Without treatment, it can take weeks – or even months – to fully recover from typhoid, and symptoms can even return.
The main symptoms to look out for are:
- a persistent high temperature that gradually increases each day
- a headache
- general aches and pains
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- a cough
- constipation
Later on, as the infection progresses you may also experience a lose in appetite, feeling sick, a tummy ache and diarrhoea.
Some people may develop a rash.
When to see a doctor
You should see your GP as soon as possible if you have symptoms of typhoid fever – even if you have been vaccinated against it – and especially if you have recently returned from travelling abroad. While typhoid fever is currently still uncommon in the UK, it’s vital to get your symptoms checked out in case you require treatment.
If you become ill while travelling abroad, you can get help by:
- contacting a representative of the travel company you booked with
- contacting your travel insurer
- contacting the British consulate in the area you’re visiting or, if you’re feeling very ill, the local emergency services
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides travel advice by country, and the contact details of all the British consulates and embassies in foreign countries can be accessed on GOV.UK.
Before you travel, it’s a good idea to make a list of relevant contact details and telephone numbers in case of an emergency.
Speaking about the new antibiotic resistant strain of typhoid fever, an international team of researchers recently wrote in the journal Scientific Data: “Despite advances in vaccination and treatment strategies, typhoid fever continues to affect millions annually, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality, and there continue to be large-scale outbreaks.”
