PERMANENTLY EXCLUDE:

• If donor was ever diagnosed with typhoid fever.

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are infections caused by related but different strains of bacteria. The two diseases are similar, and are both called enteric fevers, although paratyphoid is less severe. They are usually caught through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. These infections are most common in countries with poor sanitation. Common initial symptoms are fever and headache but more serious problems can develop if not treated. Treatment with antibiotic medication usually works well. Without treatment, about 1 in 5 people with typhoid die, although paratyphoid is not usually fatal. Vaccines can also help to prevent typhoid before travel to an area where the risk of typhoid is significant.