Typhoid Fever Recovery – Long-term Care Strategies

Summary

Typhoid is a disease caused by a bacterium known as Salmonella Typhi, primarily transmitted through water or food contaminated with the bacteria. It causes symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea, which tend to worsen over time.

Untreated typhoid fever can lead to severe complications and may be fatal. If you experience a persistent fever lasting more than four days, accompanied by vomiting and fatigue for two to three days, it is crucial to visit the nearest hospital or consult your family physician. The family physician can diagnose the illness and initiate treatment with antibiotics promptly.

While symptoms of typhoid fever typically improve within a few days of starting antibiotics, complete recovery can take up to three months. Persistent fatigue and digestive issues may linger for nearly six months after the initial infection. Additionally, there is a possibility of relapse, meaning symptoms can return after treatment has concluded. Therefore, it is essential to exercise caution during the recovery period and monitor for any relapse of symptoms.

A balanced diet low in fat is beneficial for patients in recovery. Good hydration and plenty of oral fluids are important. It is advisable to avoid fried foods and processed items. If possible, avoid restaurant-made meals; however, if home-cooked food is not an option, choose steamed dishes and freshly prepared items that are served hot.

Incorporating curds into the diet is recommended as they are a rich source of probiotics. Due to slow digestion during recovery, it may be best to avoid non-vegetarian food until fully recovered.

Typhoid – Enteric Fever

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection. The infection is caused by a type of bacteria called Salmonella Typhi. The infection causes loose stools , high fever following a particular step ladder-like pattern useful for diagnosis. Nausea, vomiting, extreme fatigue is very common.

Headaches occur due to dehydration. As the infection progresses, you may lose your appetite, have muscle aches. Rashes are also associated in Enteric Fever. lf untreated, the symptoms will continue to get worse.

Typhoid is spread through contaminated food and water. It is also highly contagious and can spread through contact with infected patients. Typhoid patients are usually quarantined to prevent this. If diagnosed early, typhoid can be treated with antibiotics. In the advanced stages, typhoid can be fatal. Children face the highest risk because their immune systems are still underdeveloped.

Diagnosing Typhoid

Symptoms of Typhoid Fever usually develop within 1 to 2 weeks of infection. Patients usually experience a fever, diarrhoea and vomiting first. These symptoms may start out fairly mild but will get worse over the next 2 to 3 days. If you have a fever, vomiting and diarrhoea that keeps getting worse for a couple of days, visit your local hospital or family physician immediately. It is best to let the doctor diagnose you correctly, just in case it is typhoid fever. The diagnosis is confirmed using a blood test. The Widal antigen test is a common test for typhoid. Blood culture is the best diagnostic tool.Stool culture at 3 weeks from fever shows the shedding of the bacteria.

Treating Typhoid

Once diagnosed, typhoid is treated with antibiotics to kill the Salmonella Typhi bacteria. The infection can usually be treated at home, as long as the patient is able to tolerate oral feeds.

The patient can be isolated. This will help avoid the disease spreading to other members of the family. Severe cases of typhoid will require hospitalisation. This is to hydrate the patient with parenteral fluids and Intravenous antibiotics if required.

The patient’s symptoms will begin to improve within 2 to 3 days of starting the antibiotics. The entire course of antibiotics must be completed. Very rarely surgical intervention may be required for complications like internal bleeding or intestinal perforations.

Some patients experience a recurrence of their symptoms even after they have been treated for typhoid. This is called a relapse. This could happen about a week after antibiotic treatment has finished. Typically, the relapsed symptoms are less intense, and can be treated with another course of antibiotics. However, overall it takes a really bad toll on the system and can significantly prolong the time taken for a full recovery.

Long Term Recovery from Typhoid

Although acute symptoms subside within a few days of antibiotic treatment, patients who have typhoid often take at least 2 months to recover fully. It takes that long to regain their appetite and energy levels. The time taken to make a complete recovery depends on the severity of the infection, how quickly the disease was identified and treated, how much the disease affected the gut, and any complications the patient may have experienced.

The body pain, fatigue and poor digestive function can take as long as 6 months to subside. Typhoid can be a very aggressive disease, and fighting it takes a huge toll on the body. Below are some pointers to keep in mind during your recovery.

Persistent Fatigue – It is common to feel fatigued for up to 6 to 8 months after antibiotic treatment for typhoid. Even if you were fit before, you may find that your post-typhoid body cannot walk quickly without feeling out of breath. This indicates that your body is still in recovery. It is important to slowly increase the pace and type of minimal exercise, allowing your body to adjust gradually.

Digestive Issues – The constant and violent vomiting and diarrhoea can cause tiny wounds on the inside of the digestive tract. It is recommended that you eat easily digestible, low fat foods to bring your energy up. Start with many small meals a day, and avoid large meals or large gaps between meals. Loss of appetite is common after typhoid, but make sure you eat well. Your body needs to be refuelled to aid recovery.

Recovery Diet – It is recommended to avoid processed foods and eating out at restaurants while you are recovering from typhoid. Simple, bland (non-spicy and non-oily), home-cooked meals are best. It is also better to avoid food with too much fibre, as the gut is too weak to process it. Include lots of fresh fruit and vegetables (steamed or boiled), lean proteins like chicken and eggs and whole grain carbs in your diet. Probiotics like yoghurt, buttermilk or Yakult are also helpful in restoring gut health.

Stay Hydrated – Hydration is as important as your diet when it comes to Typhoid recovery. Typhoid causes severe dehydration and electrolyte depletion. Water, fresh fruit juices, soups and herbal teas are very good for you.

Take care of your mental health – Mental health affects your physical health. Recovering from a serious illness like typhoid can take a toll on the mind. You have been through a difficult experience, and you may feel anxiety about relapsing or frustration with the pace of your recovery. Take it easy and be kind to yourself. Typhoid recovery can also disrupt work, your social life and other activities you may be used to doing. Keep your friends close, and reach out when you need help.

For prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of Typhoid fever, trust Kauvery Hospital, your healthcare partner with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy. Our dedicated team of doctors and caregivers are equipped with the knowledge and resources to provide comprehensive care and support during your journey to recovery from illnesses like Typhoid. At Kauvery Hospital, we believe in empowering our clients with information to make mindful decisions about their health. Your well-being is our priority.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 •  Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801