Precautions against typhoid: ‘Regular vaccination campaigns needed’

Research studies indicate that over 500 people per 100,000 contract typhoid fever every year in Karachi.

KARACHI:

Parents, and even some medical practitioners, often misdiagnose high-grade fever in children as a case of measles.

Research shows, however, that there is a higher chance that these symptoms are indicative of typhoid than any other disease, said Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, head of Aga Khan University Hospital’s Division of Women and Child Health at a consultative meeting organised by the Trust for Vaccines and Immunisation on Tuesday.

Experts present at the meeting agreed that the government, donor agencies and NGOs needed to learn from the current measles outbreak, and address the threat posed by typhoid before it too turned into an epidemic.

Urban areas are at a higher risk of witnessing typhoid epidemic than rural areas, and therefore, residents should be encouraged to get their children vaccinated, said provincial health secretary Dr Aftab Ahmed Khatri.



Research studies have indicated that over 500 people per 100,000 contract typhoid fever every year in Karachi. The average outpatient cost of treating the bacterial fever comes to around Rs4,000, but it can go as high as Rs30,000 if the patient is hospitalised, said Dr Imran Khan of the International Vaccine Institute.

Periodic vaccination campaigns that target children between the ages of five to 15 years can effectively control the spread of the disease, said Dr Bhutta. However, the country’s health system should not only be able to ensure timely delivery of the vaccines, but also that they are delivered to the targeted group of children.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2013.