What is Typhoid Fever?

Typhoid fever, also called enteric fever, or simply ‘typhoid’, is a systemic illness caused by a bacterial infection with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Typhi or serotypes Paratyphi A, B or C. In the pre-antibiotic era, typhoid carried a mortality of 5-20%. However there are currently very effective antibiotics for treatment. In South Africa, typhoid is a notifiable condition, as it has outbreak potential.