Complications Of Typhoid Fever

Typhoid (or Enteric) fever is an illness, which is often seen worldwide. It is caused by salmonella typhii. Transmission of typhoid from one person to another is through faeco-oral route.

Clinical presentation of typhoid infection includes drowsiness, headache, fever (onset of fever is slow and rises in stepladder mode), and slow pulse as compared to the rise in temperature. Rashes may appear at the end of first week. In later stages, complications may appear, which may ultimately lead to coma and / or death.

Complications

If left untreated, many complications may occur which account for 75% of deaths.

Hemorrhage from the intestines may occur at the end of second week of the fever. Perforation is the other complication of ulcerated payer’s patches in the small intestine. Patients with intestinal hemorrhage generally have a drop in temperature.

Some other complications can involve any part or system of the body like septicaemia (blood poisoning) during the first week of the fever or cholecystitis (inflammation of gall bladder) characterized by pain in right upper abdomen, right shoulder tip and region around scapula (upper sides of the back).

Myocarditis may also occur as a complication, which is an inflammation of the muscles of heart (myocardium). This is an acute inflammatory and reversible condition that may complicate a wide variety of infections.

Other complications include pneumonia (acute respiratory illness), arthritis (inflammation of joints of different parts of the body) and nephritis (inflammation in kidneys). In children, bone and joint infections are commonly seen.

Untreated typhoid may also result in meningitis, an acute infection of the meninges (layers or coverings) of the brain. The symptoms presented in such complication are the characteristic combination of fever, headache and stiffness in neck.

Preventing Complications

To prevent the complications, immunization, adequate waste disposal and protection of food and water from contamination are important measures.