Context

According to a study, the bacteria causing typhoid fever is becoming increasingly resistant to some of the most important antibiotics for human health.

About

Key findings of the study:

• The largest genome analysis of Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) shows that resistant strains, almost all originating in South Asia have spread to other countries nearly 200 times since 1990.
• The researchers noted that typhoid fever is a global public health concern, causing 11 million infections and more than 1,00,000 deaths per year.
• It is most prevalent in South Asia, which accounts for 70% of the global disease burden.
• It also has significant impacts in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, highlighting the need for a global response.
• Antibiotics can be used to successfully treat typhoid fever infections, but their effectiveness is threatened by the emergence of resistant S. Typhi strains.

About Typhoid fever:

• Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria.
• Typhoid fever is rare in developed countries.
• It is still a serious health threat in the developing world, especially for children.
• Contaminated food and water or close contact with an infected person cause typhoid fever.
• Signs and symptoms usually include:
• High fever
• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Causes
• Typhoid fever is caused by dangerous bacteria called Salmonella typhi.
• Salmonella typhi is a multiorgan pathogen characterized to inhabit the lymphatic tissues of the small intestine, liver, spleen, and bloodstream of infected humans.