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Typhoid Fever Diagnosis

When making a typhoid fever diagnosis, the doctor will ask questions about the patient's medical and travel history, perform a physical exam, and recommend certain tests. The doctor will also rule out other possible causes of the symptoms such as viral hepatitis, mononucleosis, and malaria. Certain blood, bone marrow, and stool tests can confirm a typhoid fever diagnosis.

 

Typhoid Fever Diagnosis: An Introduction

In order to make a typhoid fever diagnosis, a doctor will ask a number of questions about the patient's recent medical and travel history, perform a physical exam, and recommend certain tests. As part of diagnosing a typhoid fever bacterial infection, the doctor will also rule out other causes of possible typhoid fever symptoms, such as viral hepatitis, mononucleosis, and malaria (to name a few).
 

Tests Used to Reach a Typhoid Fever Diagnosis

If the doctor thinks a person is at risk for typhoid fever, he or she can order certain blood, bone marrow, and/or stool tests that look for the presence of the bacteria that cause typhoid fever (Salmonella typhi). This is the only way to know for sure if an illness is typhoid fever.
 
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD