Typhoid

SafeGard Travel Medicine physicians routinely recommend the typhoid vaccine for travelers to developing countries. The travel pharmacies we work with provide both the oral and the injectabe forms of the vaccine.

What is typhoid fever?

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated food and water and is common in many parts of the developing world. The most common symptoms include: increasingly high fevers, headache, loss of appetite, stomach or abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel movements. Untreated, life threatening complications can follow. Symptoms may return up to two weeks after the fever has resolved.

How can I prevent typhoid fever?

Common sense practices, such as eating safe foods, drinking safe water and observing good hygiene, are always important when traveling. Additionally, if the typhoid vaccine is recommended for your trip, you should be vaccinated at least two weeks before travel. There are two types of vaccines: an oral vaccine which is good for five years and an injectable vaccine which lasts for two years. Unless one is contraindicated, we generally offer both vaccines as options. You can discuss your ultimate decision with the travel pharmacist. The vaccines are not 100% effective in all cases, so you should always practice good hygiene and safe eating and drinking habits.

Who should get the vaccine?

The typhoid vaccine is generally recommended for all travelers to developing countries. The vaccine is generally not recommended for travel to industrialized regions such as the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Travelers to Asia, Africa, and Latin America are especially at risk, and the highest risk for typhoid is in south Asia.