Typhoid fever is an infectious disease spread by eating or drinking contaminated foods and water. Typhoid fever diagnosis has been abused in Nigeria, as many resistant malaria are automatically labelled as typhoid fever. 

Typhoid fever suns a course of about 3 – 4 weeks and is explained below:

After an incubation period of 7 to 21 days, the illness begins insidiously with non-specific symptoms. In the first week there may be headache, malaise and a rising intermittent fever, in the presence of a relative slow heart rate. There may also be a cough, and constipation occurs more commonly than diarrhoea.

In the second week the patient may become dull and apathetic and complain of diarrhoea. The high fever becomes sustained, and again heart rate may be slow. The abdomen is often distended, slightly tender and 75% of patients have enlarged spleen. Some rashes called rose spots may also appear.

In the third week, the patient becomes toxic and delirious with a continuing high fever. The abdomen remains markedly distended and “pea soup” diarrhoea is common. At this stage life-threatening intestinal haemorrhage or perforation are likely to occur. Toxaemic myocarditis may also occur.

Patients who survive the third week slowly improve over ten days, with the fever, mental state and abdominal distention improving. Intestinal haemorrhage and perforation however may still occur. By this stage the patient has often lost a lot of weight and remains profoundly weak for a short period.

Ten percent of patients relapse 1 to 3 weeks after apparent recovery, or 2 weeks or so after stopping treatment. 

Infected patients may become carriers.

Due to abuse, common antibiotics against typhoid fever do not always work.

Crystalife supports people on prevention of these diseases including prompt treatment through education and practical support if needed.