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Typhoid fever - Symptom

Alternative Names

Enteric fever

Symptoms:

Early symptoms include fever, general ill-feeling, and abdominal pain. A high (over 103 degrees) fever and severe diarrhea occur as the disease gets worse.

Some people with typhoid fever develop a rash called "rose spots," which are small red spots on the belly and chest.

Other symptoms that occur include:

Abdominal tenderness
Agitation
Bloody stools
Chills
Confusion
Difficulty paying attention (attention deficit)
Delirium
Fluctuating mood
Hallucinations
Nosebleeds
Severe fatigue
Slow, sluggish, lethargic feeling
Weakness

Signs and tests:

A complete blood count (CBC) will show a high number of white blood cells.

A blood culture during first week of the fever can show S. typhi bacteria

Other tests that can help diagnose this condition include:

Stool culture
ELISA urine test to look for the bacteria that causes Typhoid fever
Platelet count (platelet count will be low)
Fluorescent antibody study to look for substances specific to Typhoid bacteria

Salmonella typhi organism

Fly

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 6/20/2007
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Bhutta ZA. Typhoid fever. In: Rakel P, Bope ET, eds. Conn’s Current Therapy 2008. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 48.

Kaye KS, Kaye D. Salmonella infections (including typhoid fever). In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 329.

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