Disease

Typhoid fever is an infectious disease caused by Salmonella Typhi (S. typhi). It is manifested clinically by the gradual onset of headache, prolonged fever and considerable constitutional disturbances. The disease varies in severity. The term "enteric fever " includes both the typhoid and paratyphoid fevers. Paratyphoid fever is caused by S. paratyphi, S. schottmuelleri(formerly paratyphoid B), and hirschfeldii(formerly paratyphoid C).

In initial stage there is septicaemia , after few days organism become localized in lymphoid tissue of small intestine ( payer`s patches) which may ulcerate , may cause perforation and bleeding. Complications may occur in untreated cases for example perforation bleeding most common, others are pneumonia , cholecystitis, encephalitis/meningitis, myocarditis etc . Death may occur due to complications. Timely treatment saves patients life and decreases duration of illness.

Typhoid fever is not a notifiable disease throughout India. Cases are reported in sporadic or as an outbreak. there is decline trend in morbidity and mortality due to typhoid.