Awareness about typhoid, its prevalence remains low in city: Study

Typhoid fever, which is a bacterial infection, tends to affect children mostly, with peak incidence occurring in children aged 5 and 15 years. Currently, available evidence shows that vaccination against typhoid is effective and tolerable.

The survey conducted by Abbott, along with Babygogo, was aimed at assessing awareness around typhoid fever and it highlighted that only 66 per cent of respondents reported being aware of a typhoid vaccination but respondents were aware of vaccine given in National Immunisation Programme of the country such as BCG and Rotavirus. The survey revealed that about one-fifth of respondents in Chennai, who did not vaccinate their children, considered typhoid to be ‘not at all serious’ or 'mild/easily manageable’.

Despite being a bacterial infection, 57 per cent of survey respondents inaccurately attributed the cause of typhoid to a change of weather or season. Only about 40 per cent mothers from Chennai identified close contact, touching contaminated surfaces or eating food cooked by a typhoid patient as risky behaviours that could spread typhoid

About 36 per cent of the people did not vaccinate for Typhoid as it is not included in the list of NIP vaccines, while 48 per cent of them were not recommended the same by their paediatricians.

Dr R Soma Sekar, professor of paediatrics in the city said that Indian subcontinent has the highest incidence of typhoid worldwide. "The illness is characterised by prolonged fever, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, and constipation or sometimes diarrhoea. Since these symptoms are often clinically non-distinguishable from other illnesses causing fever, typhoid is frequently not treated appropriately at the early stages when such treatment is most effective – which makes prevention all the more important," said Dr Soma.

The findings of this survey indicate that physician recommendation can play a key role in ensuring higher immunization rates to protect children from this disease, as can efforts to educate patients.

Dr Srirupa Das, Medical Director, Abbott India stated that the findings shed light on awareness levels, motivation and behaviours around typhoid vaccination in India. They suggest that increased awareness about typhoid and ways to prevent it, such as improved hygiene levels and vaccination, can contribute to lessening India’s health burden due to typhoid infections.