Medical experts have raised concerns over the increasing spread of typhoid fever, warning that poor sanitation, contaminated water, and unsafe food handling continue to expose millions of people to the potentially dangerous disease.
Typhoid fever, caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi, remains one of the most common infectious diseases in many developing countries, including Nigeria, where access to clean water and proper hygiene remains a challenge in several communities.
Health professionals say the illness is usually contracted through contaminated food or drinking water and can spread rapidly in overcrowded environments with poor sanitation systems.
According to medical practitioners, common symptoms of typhoid include persistent high fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache, loss of appetite, and diarrhea or constipation. In severe cases, patients may experience internal bleeding, dehydration, or life-threatening complications if treatment is delayed.
Doctors warned that many people often mistake typhoid symptoms for malaria due to similarities such as fever and body weakness, leading to self-medication and delayed diagnosis.
They emphasized the importance of proper medical testing before treatment, noting that misuse of antibiotics has contributed to growing drug resistance, making some typhoid infections more difficult to treat.
Public health experts also expressed concern about the continued consumption of unsafe street food and untreated water, especially in densely populated urban areas where hygiene standards are sometimes poorly regulated.
They advised Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as drinking clean water, washing hands regularly, properly cooking food, and maintaining clean environments to reduce the risk of infection.
Health authorities further encouraged individuals experiencing prolonged fever or digestive problems to seek immediate medical attention rather than relying solely on self-diagnosis or unverified remedies.
Experts say improving sanitation infrastructure and access to clean water remains critical in the fight against typhoid and other waterborne diseases across the country.
They also called for increased public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the causes, symptoms, prevention, and dangers of untreated typhoid fever.
