Typhoid fever is a highly contagious bacterial illness spread through contaminated food and water supplies contaminated with the bacteria, Salmonella typhi, or passed from person to person. Due to poor sanitation systems, residents in developing countries are often infected with this bacteria and unintentionally pass it on to tourists. The symptoms of typhoid include high fever, rose-colored spots on the abdomen and chest, diarrhea or constipation, and enlargement of the spleen. While typhoid fever is often called a diarrheal disease, not all patients have diarrhea.
Fever can be either continuous or it can come and go.
Skilled nursing care is still of the utmost importance, as is a high caloric diet to prevent wasting of the body. Vaccination against typhoid is a valuable preventive measure, especially for persons in military service and for those who travel to poorly sanitized regions.