A review of the disease burden, impact and prevention of typhoid fever in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Typhoid fever is still a common infection in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries where sanitation and water supply are a common problem. A recent study placed the disease burden at 21650 974 illnesses and 216510 deaths during 2000. The infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE: This review set out to present in one concise volume a review of the major findings from published articles on the burden and impact of typhoid fever in Nigeria to aid easy reference for researchers. It highlights the disease burden, the different diagnostic methods and their sensitivities, complications, treatment methods as well as the various preventive measures including the use of typhoid vaccine in the control of the disease.
METHODS: Several published articles covering a period of 40 years were accessed different journals and reviewed, and their major findings presented in this review.
RESULTS: The disease burden from typhoid fever in Nigeria is still high with associated serious complications, which in most cases have been managed effectively with the use of potent antibiotics and surgical intervention. However, the typhoid problem has been compounded by the emergence and circulation of multi-drug resistant strains of the organism being sensitive only to the newer generation antibiotics.
CONCLUSION: Typhoid fever remains a major public health problem in Nigeria. The infection however can be prevented by good sanitation, improving good water supply, the provision of proper sewage disposal system, as well as the effective use of the available typhoid vaccines. The government and people of Nigeria should rise up to the challenge of stamping out this ugly trend.