How to Diagnose Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a serious disease caused by bacteria called Salmonella typhi

Typhoid fever is a serious disease caused by bacteria called Salmonella typhi. This disease is acquired through the consumption of contaminated food and water, as well as through close contact with an infected person. Most infections in the United States are caused by travel into underdeveloped parts of the world, or transmission by carriers of the bacteria that work in food service jobs. Know what to look for especially if you, or someone close to you, have recently travelled.

Seek medical attention

Typhoid fever is a serious and potentially life threatening infection if treatment is not received promptly. Therefore, if you suspect you may have it, it is important to be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. Start by seeing your family doctor who can refer you on to an infectious disease specialist. However, if you are unable to get a same day appointment with your family doctor, you may proceed directly to the emergency room for the fastest evaluation and treatment. Your doctor will ask you for a travel history, as places to which you have travelled is a key factor in diagnosing typhoid fever.

Understand typhoid

Typhoid fever is most commonly caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. Humans are carriers of the disease, and it is passed on via fecal oral transmission. What this means is that fecal remnants get on someone's hands, and then they touch food or water, which is subsequently ingested by another who then becomes infected with the disease. People can also become carriers of the disease, without necessarily knowing it, and this can contribute to disease outbreaks. Typhoid fever is most prominent in under developed countries, where hand hygiene is less enforced.

Recognize signs & symptoms

The illness usually takes about 1 2 weeks to present with symptoms after it has entered your system so there is a delay post exposure . Once symptoms begin to appear, they typically last 3 4 weeks and then remit if appropriate medical treatment is administered. Common signs and symptoms include A fever which gradually worsens up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit Poor appetite Fatigue Bowel disturbances diarrhea or constipation Headaches Often abdominal pain and discomfort Sometimes chest congestion Note that, even after treatment, 10% of people have a relapse of symptoms.Therefore, always be on the watch for these symptoms if you suspect you may have typhoid fever, or may be developing a relapse.

Undergo diagnostic tests

If you have typhoid fever, the following tests can be used to aid in diagnosis A stool test can look for the presence of Salmonella typhi bacteria in your stool. Since the bacteria initially enter your body via the gastrointestinal tract, it can often first be detected in the stool. If a stool test is inconclusive, your doctor will likely proceed to blood tests.The infection quickly spreads from the GI tract to various other parts of the body, so can be most often be detected in the blood as well.

Other methods of diagnosis

If a stool test and or a blood test is insufficient to confirm a diagnosis of typhoid fever, your doctor may proceed with a urine analysis or bone marrow test. Both of these methods can also be successful at diagnosing typhoid fever, since it tends to be widespread throughout the body. A bone marrow test is more complicated to conduct, but it is also the most precise method to confirm the presence of the Salmonella typhi bacteria in your body.

Follow through with treatment

If typhoid fever is confirmed, it is generally treated with antibiotics. Cipro and Rocephin are the two most commonly prescribed antibiotics for typhoid fever. Take the antibiotics as directed by your physician. Prior to the use of antibiotics, about 20% of people died of typhoid fever. It can be a very serious illness, and this is why prompt medical evaluation and following through with treatment are key.