Typhoid Fever

Key facts

• Typhoid fever is a systemic bacterial infection caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi.
• It spreads through food or water contaminated with faeces from an infected person, and stays common wherever clean water and sanitation are limited.
• The illness starts with sustained high fever, headache, and abdominal pain, and can persist for weeks without treatment.
• Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment; chloramphenicol was historically first-line and is still used in some settings.

Symptoms

The illness typically begins with a sustained high fever, headache, and abdominal pain. A relative slowness of the pulse (relative bradycardia) alongside a rising temperature is a classic clinical sign. Without treatment, symptoms can persist for weeks, and serious complications, including intestinal perforation, may develop.

Antibiotic treatment

Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Chloramphenicol was historically the first-line agent and is still used in some settings. See the antibiotics category for the range of agents used against bacterial infections. If fever does not settle within a few days of starting antibiotics, or if symptoms worsen sharply, seek medical attention promptly.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.