Severe Systemic Reactions to Typhoid Vaccination: Two Cases and a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Typhoid vaccination is part of the routine immunization of all military personnel on mobility status. We report the cases of Air Force students who presented to our facility with presumed systemic reactions to the typhoid vaccine much more severe than those commonly reported. Review of the literature reveals that an influenza-like reaction of variable severity commonly occurs in these patients, and in addition there are isolated reports of more severe reactions. These findings shed doubt on the overall safety of the currently used vaccine and warrant a consideration of its abandonment. Several safer alternatives, including the new live oral vaccine used in Europe, are discussed.

Analysis of changes in acute‐phase plasma proteins in an acute inflammatory response and in rheumatoid arthritis using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis

“…The subject was treated briefly with systemic prednisone and recovered fully. Similar responses to typhoid vaccination have been reported previously [23]. CRP and SAA measured by immunoassay both showed clear increases in all ten subjects ( Table 4).…”

Sudden Death after Typhoid and Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination in a Young Male Taking Pseudoephedrine

“…Rone and Friedstrom in 1990 reported a typhoid vaccine reaction with mild disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, evidence of functional hepatic impairment, and bone marrow abnormalities. 6 The pathophysiology of these severe reactions to the typhoid vaccine is unknown. In onefatal case thought to be an anaphylacticreaction, elevated levels ofimmunoglobulin E and inflammatory aggregates in the liver and heart were noted."…”