In this episode, Dr. Jess Pelletier speaks with Dr. Emmanuel Effa about typhoid fever.
Take-Home Points:
- Typhoid fever is endemic in settings with water and sanitation issues
- In other places, it is more commonly imported from overseas when people visit endemic areas
- Typically, infected people present with varying degrees of fever, fatigue, headaches, abdominal pains and constipation/diarrhea. It can run a severe course that leads to death
- Diagnosis is based on clinical features and cultures of bone marrow, blood, stool or urine
- Treatment is guided by local protocols dependent on antimicrobial sensitivity patterns
- Vaccines are available and are reasonably effective.
- Overall, promoting access to safe water ensuring adequate sanitation; promoting hygiene among food handlers and typhoid vaccination are effective in preventing typhoid fever
You can view the full show notes and references here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15yGRZV8UpQEKcFIwSFnCOGEl1uE77wlFP3T7tpm-YFc/edit?usp=sharing
Sound attributions:
