A study published on March 25, 2026 in The Lancet Regional Health — Southeast Asia estimates that antibiotic‑resistant typhoid infections — largely those resistant to fluoroquinolones — were responsible for at least 87% of India’s typhoid-related economic burden in 2023, with total costs estimated at ₹123 billion. The analysis, by researchers including teams from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Christian Medical College, Vellore, warns that drug resistance is amplifying both health and financial harms nationwide.
Children under 10 carried the heaviest share of that burden, accounting for more than half of total costs, the researchers found. Households bore about 91% of the expenses, and roughly 70,000 families experienced what the authors described as “catastrophic” health expenditure — medical costs large enough to threaten their financial stability.
The study identified five high‑burden states — Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — as responsible for about 51% of national costs. Researchers compiled empirical Indian data on typhoid incidence, care‑seeking patterns and clinical outcomes, and estimated both direct medical costs and indirect costs (such as lost earnings) for hospitalized and non‑hospitalized patients.
The team highlighted antibiotic resistance as the main driver of economic loss. “Fluoroquinolone‑resistant infections accounted for 87% of total costs,” the authors write, noting that fluoroquinolones — a class of antibiotics that can reduce fever in typhoid within about four days — are increasingly ineffective in many cases.
Beyond documenting costs, the paper frames clear policy implications. The authors say their findings provide key evidence supporting the introduction of the typhoid conjugate vaccine into India’s national immunisation schedule, which is currently under consideration. They also recommend strengthening antibiotic resistance control measures and using the results to guide national health‑financing policy to protect vulnerable households.
The study presents what the authors describe as a comprehensive, nationally representative estimate, filling gaps left by earlier, localized analyses. Their conclusion: fluoroquinolone resistance is driving the economic burden of typhoid in India, disproportionately affecting young children and imposing substantial financial strain on families.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/antibiotic-resistance-fuels-87-of-indias-typhoid-economic-burden-study/article70783483.ece
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Publish Date: 2026-03-25 17:09:00
