Do you work with food? Are you vaccinated against typhoid?
“Contamination usually comes from an infected food handler, who may not have washed his or her hands properly after using the toilet. Eating food handled by this person will up your risk of getting typhoid fever,” said Dr Liew, The Star, 2015
Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria and patients have:
prolonged fever
headache
nausea
loss of appetite
fatigue
in one-in-100 cases it causes fatal complications
The bacteria are highly contagious and spread through contaminated food or water.
In Malaysia, the incidence of enteric fever ranged from 906 cases with 8 deaths in 1995 to 695 cases with 1 death in 2001.
Who should be vaccinated?
Food handlers and vendors
Travelers to areas in which there is a recognized risk of exposure to S. typhi. Risk is greatest for travelers to developing countries (e.g., countries in Latin America, Asia,and Africa).
Persons with intimate exposure (e.g., household contact) to a documented S. typhi carrier.
What happens if I am infected?
A course of antibiotics will normally resolve the situation. Before antibiotics, typhoid killed one-in-five people infected. Now there is growing levels of typhoid that is resistant to drugs.
Without treatment, you may become a chronic carrier. You are still infecting others with bacteria in your faeces, although you no longer have signs or symptoms of the disease themselves.
Am I safe if I am vaccinated?
Although Typhoid Fever vaccines do not provide 100% protection, they will reduce the severity of the illness. A new vaccine undergoing trials have been found to be up to 87% effective. Please talk to your health provider to know when it would be available.
伤寒是由伤寒沙门氏菌引起的，病人有：
长时间发烧
头痛
恶心
食欲不振
疲劳
在百分之一的情况下，它会导致致命的并发症
细菌高度传染，通过污染的食物或水传播。
在马来西亚，肠炎的发病率从1995年的906例，8例死亡到2001年的695例，1例死亡。
谁应该接种疫苗？ 食品处理人员和供应商 旅行者可能会接触到伤寒沙门氏菌的地区。旅客到发展中国家的风险最大（例如拉丁美洲，亚洲和非洲国家）。 亲密接触（例如家庭接触）的人与记录的伤寒沙门氏菌携带者。
如果我感染了会发生什么？ 抗生素疗程通常会解决这个问题。在使用抗生素之前，伤寒死亡的人中有五分之一是感染的。现在有越来越多的耐药性的伤寒。
没有治疗，你可能会成为慢性携带者。尽管你自己已经不再有这种疾病的体征或症状，但你仍然感染着粪便中的细菌。
如果我接种疫苗，我安全吗？ 尽管伤寒疫苗不能提供100％的保护，但会降低疾病的严重程度。已经发现一种正在进行试验的新疫苗有效率高达87％。请与您的健康提供者联系，了解何时可以使用。
DRAFT CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES December 2003 MOH/P/PAK/ 67.03 (GU)
