What should you know about the cause of typhoid and cholera?

Typhoid is caused by Salmonella Typhi and can produce a sustained illness with fever, headache, weakness, abdominal symptoms and sometimes diarrhoea or constipation. Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae and can release a toxin that draws water into the bowel, causing sudden, profuse watery diarrhoea and rapid fluid loss. Both infections can spread where sanitation, hand hygiene or safe drinking water are limited. A person's symptoms and travel or exposure history cannot confirm the organism without clinical assessment and, when needed, testing.

Start replacing fluids with safe water and Oral Rehydration Therapy while arranging medical advice, particularly when diarrhoea or vomiting is frequent. Use treated or sealed water for drinking and handwashing, and avoid preparing food for other people until advised. Do not rely on anti-diarrhoeal medicines or leftover antibiotics without guidance. A clinician may prescribe targeted treatment for typhoid or cholera and may need to assess contacts or travel-related infection control.

Seek urgent help for profuse watery diarrhoea, repeated vomiting, faintness, confusion, marked weakness, sunken eyes, a dry mouth or very little urine. These can indicate dangerous dehydration. Go to emergency care for collapse, inability to drink, severe abdominal symptoms or reduced alertness. IV Fluid Therapy may be needed when fluid loss is rapid or oral fluids cannot be kept down. Fever after travel to an area where typhoid occurs also warrants prompt assessment.

Share recent travel, drinking-water and food exposures, contact with anyone who was ill, vaccination history, symptom onset and the number and character of stools. Ask whether testing, antibiotics, rehydration supervision or precautions around household members are needed.