Symptoms of Typhoid

Typhoid fever refers to a severe bacterial infection which primarily spreads through contaminated food or water. Typhoid fever is an important health concern globally, with an estimated 9 million cases and 110,000 deaths yearly. Typhoid is caused by the bacterium named Salmonella Typhi. A typhoid fever causes a person to get tired and fatigued easily. There are several symptoms of typhoid. Typhoid symptoms include persistent high fever, stomach pain, headache, etc.

Typhoid fever symptoms differ based on age, severity of illness, and other factors. Typhoid tests for its diagnosis include various tests, like blood cultures, stool and urine cultures, the Widal test, and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Typhoid fever treatments include a few antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, to kill the bacteria. Apart from the typhoid fever medications, other supportive treatments could be used in the typhoid treatments. Countries like Nepal, India and Bangladesh are among the countries most affected by typhoid fever, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. We will discuss Typhoid symptoms and their treatment here.

Know More About Typhoid

Identifying the symptoms of Typhoid earlier is significant because it helps in prompt treatment and prevents any further complications. The initial symptoms of Typhoid are generally seen 1–3 weeks after exposure to the Salmonella typhi bacteria. The symptoms of Typhoid in babies appear for 1-3 weeks after exposure to the Salmonella typhi bacteria.

To identify typhoid symptoms, a medical professional can go through a physical exam, blood tests, and other tests. But, finding the typhoid symptoms at home is also possible. There is a Typhoid Fever Rapid Test Kit that is available in several countries, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and most countries in South Asia where Typhoid is more prevalent. Typhoid Fever Rapid Test Kit is a medical diagnostic tool used to find out the presence of antibodies against Salmonella typhi in the blood, serum, or plasma samples of the patient. Thus, it helps find the symptoms of Typhoid.

Typhoid Symptoms

There are many Typhoid symptoms that help find out a person is affected by Typhoid. What are the symptoms of Typhoid? The following are the common symptoms of Typhoid.

Fever very high as 104°F (40°C)
Stomach pain
Headache
Weakness and fatigue
Constipation or diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Rash with flat, rose-colored spots
Chills
Agitation, confusion, delirium, or hallucinations
Muscle aches
Bloody stools
Nosebleeds
Difficulty paying attention.

Let's briefly discuss some of the major symptoms of Typhoid.

Signs of Typhoid

Active typhoid symptoms include continuous fever, diarrhoea, and other symptoms. It's more contagious and can be fatal if it is untreated. The inactivated typhoid vaccine refers to a shot that prevents typhoid fever that is given into a muscle in a doctor's office.

What is Typhoid?

Typhoid refers to a bacterial infection that affects the intestines and bloodstream. Typhoid can be life-threatening if it is left untreated.

Types of Typhoid

There are four types of typhoid fever. They are Typhi, Paratyphi A, Paratyphi B, and Paratyphi C.

Salmonella Typhi (also called Typhoid bacteria), known as S. Typhi, causes typhoid fever.
Salmonella Paratyphi A causes paratyphoid fever, a serious and contagious bacterial infection.
Salmonella Paratyphi B causes paratyphoid fever, a contagious, serious, and sometimes life-threatening disease.
Salmonella Paratyphi C causes a potentially life-threatening infection called paratyphoid fever.

Paratyphoid fever is less severe and common than typhoid fever.

Typhoid fever is caused by the bacteria Salmonella Typhi serotype.
Paratyphoid fever is caused by the Salmonella Paratyphi A, B, and C serotypes.

Causes of Typhoid

Typhoid fever is mainly caused by the bacteria called Salmonella Typhi, which spreads through contaminated food or water. We have seen the causes of Typhoid; let's see how it spreads.

Eating food that has been handled by a person who is infected or a carrier of the bacteria.
It spreads through contaminated water from sewage, which is used for drinking or washing food.
If a person with the disease don't wash his/her hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, it spreads.

Risk Factors of Typhoid

We have discussed the causes and symptoms of Typhoid, so let's see the risk factors. There are many risk factors for typhoid fever, they include :

1) Food

Eating unsafe and contaminated food.
Food washed in contaminated water.
Food from street sellers or vendors.

2) Water

Drinking contaminated water or using ice from unclean water.

3) Travelling

Traveling to places with poor sanitation
Travelling to places having food handling practices.

4) Improper Hygiene Not washing hands properly with soap, particularly after using the toilet or changing a diaper.

5) Environment Staying in unhygienic conditions.

6) Crowded Places Residing in a crowded place.

7) Poverty Not drinking safe drinking water and less access to sanitation .

Treatment for Typhoid

Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics. Treatment at the correct time is necessary to prevent more complications and death. Some newer types of bacteria are able to survive even after antibiotic treatments, so you'll be treated with different antibiotics based on what type of Typhoid you have and where you got sick.

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Typhoid is generally treated with antibiotics. A few bacteria types are able to survive antibiotic treatments, so you shall be treated with various antibiotics based on the type of Typhoid and where you became sick. Also, Paratyphoid fever is treated with antibiotics.

Foods to Eat in Typhoid

Eating some foods helps fast recovery during Typhoid. Here are the foods to be included during Typhoid.

Category	Items
Cooked vegetables	Potatoes, green beans, carrots, beets, squash.
Grains	White rice, white bread, pasta, crackers
Fruits	Melons, Ripe bananas, applesauce, canned fruit
Proteins	Eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, tofu, ground meat
Dairy products	low fat or fat-free pasteurized milk, cheese, yoghurt, and ice cream (as tolerable)
Beverages	Herbal tea, bottled water, coconut water, juice, broth

Foods to Avoid during Typhoid

There are some foods which have to be avoided to prevent further complications. Here are those foods that have to be avoided during Typhoid.

Category	Items
Raw vegetables	Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, onions
Whole grains	Brown rice, quinoa, barley, buckwheat, couscous.
Fruits	Pineapple, Dried fruit and raw berries, and Kiwi
Nuts	Pistachios, almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts
Seeds	Flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds
Legumes	Black beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas
Fatty foods	Mozzarella sticks, doughnuts, fried chicken, potato chips, onion rings
Spicy foods	Cayenne pepper, hot peppers, jalapeños, paprika

Typhoid Medications

Some medications help in typhoid treatment; let's see them.

Medicine Names	Formula
Ciprofloxacin	C17H18FN3O3
Levoflaxin	C18H20FN3O4
Ofloxacin	C18H20FN3O4
Ceftriaxone	C18H18N8O7S3
Cefotaxime	C16H17N5O7S2
Cefixime	C16H15N5O7S2
Carbapenems	C6H7NO
Azithromycin	C38H72N2O12

These medications will only be provided by your Doctor, you must not take these tablets for Typhoid, without his/her prescriptions.

Recovery time for Typhoid

Typhoid fever can take up to 7–10 days to recover from if it is treated early, but it can take so longer if it is left untreated. The recovery signs from Typhoid fever include :

No fever
Less diarrhea
No chest congestion
Reduced fatigue
Restored appetite
No headaches or stomach aches

How to Prevent Typhoid?

In general, one can prevent typhoid fever by some procedures like practicing good hygiene, getting properly vaccinated, and avoiding food and water that are contaminated.

How is Typhoid Diagnosed?

Typhoid diagnosis can be made through undergoing many tests like blood tests, stool test or urine samples test, which help find the presence of Salmonella typhi bacteria. Also, a healthcare provider might perform a physical examination and enquire about your travel history.

Conclusion

There are many signs and symptoms of Typhoid. While these signs and symptoms of typhoid fever are diagnosed, treatment could help for a fast recovery. Always consult a healthcare provider to find out the symptoms of Typhoid in children. Don't use kits for your children to identify typhoid symptoms and have a safer move for your child’s health.

If you notice early symptoms of Typhoid, get treatment from your Doctor. Moreover, as prevention is better than cure, it is wiser to practice prevention methods.

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FAQ

What is one of the first signs of Typhoid?

One of the first signs of Typhoid is fever.  The other early symptoms are abdominal pain, generally feeling unwell, chills, headache, loss of appetite, and weakness.

Can Typhoid go away on its own?

Yes, for many healthy adults, they could recover from typhoid fever on their own, but it could take weeks or months. But without treatment, Typhoid can become more serious and result in severe risks.

Which organ affects Typhoid?

Intestines are the organs primarily affected by the Typhoid fever, but it can also affect the bloodstream and other organs.

How do you detect Typhoid?

Typhoid fever is diagnosed by the tests like blood test, urine test, stool test, or bone marrow. A doctor will examine you physically and order for these tests.

Can we test Typhoid at home?

Yes, one can test for Typhoid at home using a Widal test or through home sample collection.

What are the worst symptoms of Typhoid?

The worst symptoms of typhoid fever are high fever, heavy diarrhoea, and complications like encephalitis.

In which season typhoid is common?

Typhoid is common during the rainy season, as it is a moist environment that encourages the growth of bacteria that causes Typhoid.

Can Typhoid be detected but no fever?

Yes, it is possible to detect Typhoid without a fever or with a low-grade fever.

Is paracetamol good for typhoid fever?

Yes, paracetamol (acetaminophen) could help lower fever and discomfort from typhoid fever.