Having a Family Trip Far Away from Home? Beware of the Typhoid Fever.

Typhoid fever or enteric fever is caused by bacteria called Salmonella typhi. The current situation of typhoid infection in Thailand has greatly reduced due to the better public health and hygiene.

How does typhoid fever affect contract?

Contracting a typhoid fever is easy. It can happen by eating or drinking water contaminated with the Salmonella typhi with flies as a carrier, or travel to the area where the disease outbreak. Although the children can be contracted with the typhoid fever easier, the adults tend to have more severe symptoms.

How to know if your baby’s diarrhea is from the typhoid fever?

• If the child is infected, he/she will have a high fever and fatigue.
• There might be constipation, diarrhea, or even severe diarrhea.
• Have a watery stool. Feces mix with bloody mucus.
• Your children might have a rash on the body.

Protect your baby from the typhoid

• Teach the children to wash their hands before and after the meals and after using the bathroom.
• Make sure that your children eat and drink clean water.
• Avoid taking the children to the area with outbreaks.

The question is... do the children need to be vaccinated with typhoid fever?

If parents plan to take their children to a country with high risk of typhoid outbreaks such as India, Nepal, or countries in Africa, vaccination before traveling is recommended. You may need to consult the doctor again. The vaccine in Thailand is the type that needs to be injected into the muscles. For people with high risk, they can be repeated the vaccine every 3 years. Currently, the edible vaccine isn’t available in Thailand, and its performance is lower, just about 60%-70%.