What are the Ten Most Familiar Signs Helpful in Diagnosis of Typhoid Fever?

Typhoid is a dangerous illness with potentially lethal outcomes. This illness, brought on by the Salmonella typhi bacteria, is particularly common in underdeveloped nations. These bacteria may reside inside sick individuals and spread via feces or urine. Typhoid can get caught from consuming food or water contaminated with feces or urine, as well as through direct contact with an infected individual when they touch you with contaminated hands. Early Typhoid symptoms include a low-grade fever that gradually rises each day, possibly reaching 104.9 F (40.5 C), headache, fatigue, muscle pain, sweating, wet cough, and stomach upset 

Typhoid symptoms usually manifest one to two weeks after you become infected with Salmonella typhi. Let’s look into some of the typical signs suggesting this illness.

After the fever has subsided, signs and symptoms in some people may persist for up to two weeks.

• Fever: 

Typhoid fever starts mildly but quickly gets worse, with a high temperature of 103–104° F. It remains high for 10 to 14 days until returning to normal around the fourth week after the onset of the symptoms.

• Headache:

Typhoid can also cause headaches as a warning indicator. Usually, only the forehead is affected, and a “tight band”-like sensation can be experienced. However, some persons can also have a splitting, exploding, or throbbing headache.

• Rash:

Another sign of typhoid is a rash with tiny, flat, pink dots all over it. About 10-20% of those who contract typhoid develop this rash on the chest and belly.

• Muscle Ache:

While many illnesses can make your muscles ache, keep an eye out for muscle aches that also appear in conjunction with the other symptoms mentioned above. With typhoid, generalized body soreness is also typical.

• Fatigue and Exhaustion:

We all feel the need for rest after physically taxing ourselves, going through stressful situations, or going without enough sleep. However, it can be concerning if you experience weariness frequently or after activities that did not previously exhaust you. Typhoid patients can experience such extreme exhaustion that performing any action becomes challenging.

• Constipation and Diarrhea: 

Both constipation and diarrhea are symptoms of typhoid. You might initially experience constipation before developing diarrhea after approximately two weeks. Children may experience diarrhea frequently, up to 8 times per day, while adults may be more prone to constipation. Typhoid diarrhea is referred to as “pea soup” because of its appearance, which is thin, yellowish-green stools. Most of the time, the afflicted person cannot control bowel movements.

• Gastrointestinal Issues: 

Typhoid symptoms can also include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal problems other than diarrhea and constipation. During the first week, abdominal pain may be mild to moderate in intensity and nonspecific. However, some people could feel excruciating agony.

During the second week, the pain may also become more localized, centered on the right lower portion of your stomach.

• Behavioral Changes: 

Your mental health may undergo several alterations as a result of typhoid. Hallucinations, delirium, confusion, and attention issues are possible.

These can cause you to feel disoriented and confused, making it difficult for you to think, concentrate, or remember where you are or the time. You can also perceive or hear things that are not there. Some people begin hesitantly, grumble, or ramble incoherently. Additionally, they could pick at their finger, nose, sheets, or imaginary items.

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• Internal Bleeding

Typhoid can often lead to complications, including internal bleeding in the digestive system or perforation in a section of the digestive system, usually in those who have not gotten treatment for this ailment.

Typhoid internal bleeding typically doesn’t result in death. But it may result in:

• A persistent sense of fatigue
• Breathlessness
• An unsteady heartbeat
• Passage of stools that are bloody and seem black and tarry
• Throwing up blood

• Intestinal Perforation

Holes in the intestine may result in significant problems. Your digestive system’s bacteria may move into your abdomen and infect the lining. Peritonitis is the term for this condition. Because your stomach lining cannot fight off infection, unlike other organs like your skin, it is a medical emergency. As a result, the disease has a chance of entering your bloodstream and spreading to other organs. Multiple organ failure could potentially be the outcome of this. These are a few symptoms of this condition:

• Abrupt, severe abdominal discomfort that starts mildly
• Nausea and diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Chills and fever

Conclusion:

A quick blood test can determine if you have malaria, whereas a stool, urine, or blood test can determine if you have typhoid. If you experience any of the above typhoid symptoms (even if you have been immunized against it), visit your medical practitioner as soon as you can, exceptionally if you have just returned from a trip to high-risk countries.