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.