Travel trouble: typhoid fever--A case presentation and review

Endogenously contracted typhoid fever has decreased dramatically in the industrialized world. A practicing physician may not see a case in a lifetime, but health professionals should not allow typhoid to recede from their consciousness. Typhoid is still endemic in much of the developing world, and as travel increases, illnesses can and do skip around the world in a day. College students are at particular risk because they often travel on a low budget for extended periods, mix freely with local populations in endemic regions, and are not aware of the risks of such travel. College health professionals need to be able to recognize typhoid fever, should it present, and give advice to patients on primary prevention. The author includes a case presentation that is not completely classical for typhoid fever, as well as a state-of-the-art review, including description, epidemiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Special attention is given to the question of who should be immunized and which vaccines are effective.