A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia reveals that antibiotic-resistant typhoid infections accounted for nearly 87% of India’s total economic burden from the disease in 2023.
The overall cost of typhoid fever was estimated at ₹123 billion, with children under 10 years contributing to more than half of the total burden. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Christian Medical College, Vellore, found that households bore 91% of these expenses, with around 70,000 families facing catastrophic health expenditures.
States including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal together accounted for 51% of the national burden.
Typhoid, a bacterial infection spread through contaminated food and water, commonly causes high fever, fatigue, headache, and abdominal pain.
The study emphasizes the need to introduce the typhoid conjugate vaccine into India’s national immunisation programme and to strengthen efforts to combat antibiotic resistance. It also highlights the importance of improved health financing policies to reduce the financial strain on families.
Using nationwide data on disease patterns, treatment outcomes, and healthcare costs, the researchers concluded that fluoroquinolone-resistant infections are the main drivers of the economic burden, disproportionately affecting young children.
While fluoroquinolones are typically effective in treating typhoid quickly, rising resistance to these antibiotics is increasing treatment complexity and costs, further worsening the disease’s economic impact.
