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Typhoid Fever Facts (Cont.)

Typhoid Fever Facts on Symptoms

When a person becomes infected with the bacteria that cause typhoid fever, the bacteria begin to multiply and spread into the bloodstream. After 3 to 60 days, symptoms of typhoid fever can occur. This period between becoming infected and the start of symptoms is the typhoid fever incubation period.
 
Symptoms of typhoid fever vary among individuals. Some will have mild symptoms, while others could have very serious symptoms, including death.
 
Common symptoms of typhoid fever include:
 
  • Fever as high as 103° to 104° F (39° to 40° C)
  • Rash of flat, rose-colored spots
  • Stomach pains
  • Headache
  • Weakness
  • Bloody nose
  • Loss of appetite
  • Constipation
  • Decreased heart rate.
 

Typhoid Fever Facts: How Is It Diagnosed?

When making 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
  • Recommend certain tests.
 
As part of diagnosing typhoid fever, the doctor will rule out conditions with similar symptoms, such as viral hepatitis, mononucleosis, and malaria, to name a few.
 

Typhoid Fever Facts on Treatment

Typhoid fever treatment involves taking antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Treatment is focused on providing relief of symptoms as the body and antibiotics fight the illness.
 
When appropriate treatment is started early, the prognosis is usually good. With proper treatment, the mortality rate (death rate) of typhoid fever is generally under 1 percent.
 
(Typhoid Fever Facts Continued: Page 3)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD