Should I get vaccinated?
Typhoid fever is a very unpleasant bacterial infection that affects your intestines and bloodstream.
The infection is spread by contaminated food and water and affects people of all ages.
Typhoid is not a concern in Australia, but the typhoid vaccine is recommended for people travelling to places where typhoid outbreaks are common. These are usually regions with poor sanitation and unsafe water.
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How do I get vaccinated?
There are two different types of vaccine for typhoid – an injection, or tablets. It’s best to get the injection two weeks before you travel and the tablets need to be taken over the course of a week, finishing a few days before you take antibiotics or antimalarials.
The injection is suitable for most people and side effects are rare. However, it might not be suitable for you if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you’ve had a serious reaction to a typhoid jab in the past.
Come in and chat with us or give us a call to discuss if the vaccine is right for you.
The typhoid jab only lasts for a few years, so it’s important to get a booster before another trip overseas.
We can also help you with other travel vaccinations, travel health advice, and travel essentials such as hand sanitiser and over-the-counter medicines.
Disease facts
Typhoid is caused by a bacteria called Salmonella typhi. It is only carried by humans and is transferred when people consume food or water that has been contaminated by faeces (poo). Salads, raw fruits and vegetables, ice in drinks, and shellfish are common culprits.
Contamination can happen in places where sewage mixes with the general water supply, or people can’t wash their hands properly after using the bathroom.
The disease is common in many parts of Asia and the South Pacific, particularly India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, south-east Asia, and Papua New Guinea. It is also common across Africa, the Middle East and some parts of Latin America.
Typhoid symptoms
Symptoms of typhoid are varied and often people generally just “feel unwell”. Key symptoms include:
- fever and chills
- headache
- aches and pains
- loss of appetite
- dry cough
- constipation or diarrhoea
- nausea and vomiting
- rash on some people, usually on the chest and stomach.
Preventing disease
Always practice good personal hygiene with regular hand washing or sanitising.
In places where the tap water is not safe to drink, stick to hot food and drinks or water that has been boiled, bottled drinks, or take your own water purifying tablets, filter or UV water purification device.
