Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever

How is the disease diagnosed?
The clinical picture together with information on travel may be a good pointer for the doctor in moderate to severe cases. For the final diagnosis to be established, the bacteria have to be detected in samples from the stool, blood or other tissue.

Malaria also needs to be considered as another possible explanation for the symptoms of the disease when the patient has been travelling in a malarial area.

How is typhoid fever treated?
Treatment requires admission to hospital and loss of fluid and salt is treated with fluid therapy as appropriate.

The bacterium is controlled with antibiotics, and in very rare cases steroid medicines are also included in the treatment.

Prevention
Within the hospital setting, infected people are cared for in isolation. Proper hand hygiene is the most important way of preventing further spread in hospital.

Stool samples are also taken from members of the patient's family to identify any 'healthy' carriers.

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