Typhoid Fever

Overview

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water and food. It causes a sustained fever that rises gradually over several days (“step-ladder” pattern), along with abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea, headache and tiredness. With correct antibiotics most people recover fully, but typhoid can cause serious complications if untreated. Safe water, food and hand hygiene prevent it.

Symptoms

• Fever that rises gradually over several days and stays high.
• Headache, tiredness and loss of appetite.
• Abdominal pain and discomfort.
• Constipation (more common in adults) or diarrhoea.
• A slow pulse relative to the fever, and sometimes faint rose-coloured spots on the trunk.

Evaluation and investigations

• Blood culture — the most reliable test, especially early in the illness.
• Widal test — a common antibody test; interpreted alongside the clinical picture, not in isolation.
• Complete blood count and liver function tests.
• Stool and urine cultures in some cases.

Management

Typhoid is treated with appropriate antibiotics, chosen with local resistance patterns in mind. Adequate hydration, nutrition and rest support recovery, and the full antibiotic course must be completed. In recent years, drug-resistant typhoid has made correct antibiotic choice important. Severe typhoid — with intestinal bleeding, perforation or very high fever and confusion — needs urgent hospital care.

Warning signs — seek urgent care

• Severe abdominal pain with vomiting (possible intestinal perforation).
• Blood in stools or black stools.
• Very high fever with confusion, drowsiness or shock.
• Severe dehydration or inability to keep fluids down.

How we help

Dr. Nayak diagnoses typhoid with the right tests, chooses an appropriate antibiotic, and monitors recovery and complications — referring to hospital when severe features appear. Consultations are available in-clinic in Bhubaneswar and over teleconsultation.

Related conditions and patient concerns

• Acute Gastrointestinal Infection
• Food Poisoning
• Fever with Headache
• Fever
• Digestive Problems
• Abnormal Test Results