Typhoid Vaccine Side Effects

Typhoid is a disease, characterized by a fever that slowly progresses with inflammation of the stomach and intestine. It is a serious infection that can cause death of an individual, if not treated on time. The disease is caused by the bacteria, Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella enterica enterica typhi. People generally come in contact with this enterobacteria by ingesting contaminated water and food. So, the disease is rare in areas with proper drinking water and sewage system.

The incidence of typhoid is quite rare in United states. However, the disease can be contacted by people while traveling to those areas, which do not have a well-developed water supply and sewage system. Taking these factors into account, the 'United States Centers for Disease Control' have recommended to maintain caution while traveling to parts of Africa, Latin America and Asia. A typhoid vaccine can also ensure a high degree of protection against the disease and hence, can be taken by people considering to travel to these parts of the world.

Types of Typhoid Vaccine
It is available in two forms, one is the oral vaccine, and the other is the regular shot, administered by a needle. The oral vaccine comes in the form of capsules and is a live vaccine. This means, that it contains live, but altered or less virulent bacteria, that cannot cause the disease, but can build up immunity against it. On the other hand, the regular typhoid shot is an inactivated vaccine that does not contain live salmonella typhi. It is administered just like other vaccines, i.e. by injection.

Typhoid Vaccine Dangers
Like any other vaccine, it cannot guarantee 100% protection against the disease. At the same time, it can also produce some mild reactions or side effects in certain individuals. But, generally its serious or potentially life-threatening side effects are extremely rare. The most commonly observed side effects are pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, headache, muscle or joint pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, abdominal pain and mild fever. Some individuals can develop diarrhea, and allergic reactions like, skin rash, hives, itching and swelling of the eyes or face after taking the oral typhoid vaccine. However, these oral typhoid vaccine complications are quite rare.

Most of the side effects generally go away within a few days without any medical intervention. But, if the symptoms persist for several days, it is better to consult a physician. In addition to this, a physician should also be contacted immediately, if severe allergic reactions like swelling of the eyes or face and breathing difficulties are experienced. The vaccine is generally not administered to individuals with a weak immune system or those who are taking immunosuppressant medications. People who have earlier developed severe reactions to typhoid vaccine are also not eligible for getting vaccinated with typhoid shot or the oral vaccine.

The inactivated typhoid vaccine is not given to children younger than 2 years, while the oral vaccine should not be administered to children younger than 6 years of age. Till now, the safety of the typhoid vaccine for pregnant women have not been established properly, for which it is usually not recommended for expecting mothers. So, a lot of factors need to be considered before giving typhoid shot or oral vaccine. Therefore, it is better to disclose any kind of information related to your health condition, the medications that you are taking or whether you have allergy to substances like food, dye or animals.

If adequate caution is maintained, risk of developing serious typhoid vaccine side effects is minimal. On the other hand, the vaccine can provide protection against typhoid fever, which can lead to some really life-threatening complications. Along with getting vaccinated against the disease, one should also maintain some basic personal hygiene. Drinking clean and properly sterilized or boiled water is one of the most important safety measures to prevent the occurrence of typhoid disease.