Epidemiologic patterns and control strategies in typhoid fever.

Human beings are the only reservoir and host for typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi and less commonly S. paratyphi B and S.paratyphiA. Typhoid fever is a serious disease occurring in many developing countries. It kills young adults at the beginning of their productive years, these people frequently are the main wage earners in the family which further magnifies the socioeconomic impact of the disease. Control of the disease requires uncontaminated water, effective sewage disposal and prompt diagnosis and treatment of patients as well as asymptomatic carriers. Unfortunately these are not readily available in many countries where typhoid fever is endemic.