Typhus symptoms include fever, aches, headache, fatigue, weakness, and gastrointestinal problems. Antibiotics treat the disease, but it takes weeks for symptoms to subside. Over-the-counter medications, fluid intake, and a nutritious diet help manage symptoms. Patients should discuss with their doctors before taking any medications or introducing anything new into their diet. Vaccination is recommended for those traveling to areas where typhus is prevalent.
The most common symptoms of typhus include fever, general aches, headache, fatigue, weakness, and gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, and changes in appetite. Patients diagnosed with typhoid are treated with antibiotics that kill the bacteria that cause the disease, but it often takes several weeks for symptoms to subside completely. During this time, patients can manage typhoid symptoms with other medications, lifestyle changes, and home treatment methods.
Over-the-counter medications can help minimize many of the symptoms of typhoid while the patient is recovering. Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, help reduce the general feeling of pain that often accompanies a fever. Acetaminophen also helps reduce fever, although it probably won’t completely eliminate fever in patients with typhoid. Over-the-counter diarrhea prevention medications are also helpful for many patients because they help reduce gastrointestinal and abdominal pain and cramping, and they also reduce the risk of dehydration from diarrhea.
Proper fluid intake is extremely important in managing typhus symptoms because many patients become dehydrated after losing fluids due to high fever and diarrhea. Patients should drink clear sugar-free liquids as much as possible. Popsicles made with unsweetened fruit juice can help cool the patient and provide fluid to keep them hydrated. In severe cases of dehydration, typhoid patients may need to receive intravenous fluids at a hospital or other medical care facility.
A nutritious diet high in calories helps replace nutrients lost as the body fights infection during the duration of the illness. Typhoid patients should choose bland foods if they experience diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms to avoid making the problem worse. Consuming more calories and fat grams than they normally would is usually appropriate for typhoid patients because their bodies need the extra nutrition and energy.
Spongeing off with warm water or sitting in a cool bath for 10 to 20 minutes can help reduce fever and ease general aches and pains. Typhoid patients often feel cold or shivering, so it’s important to let their sweat glands release as much moisture as possible. It is best to remove as much clothing and bedding as possible while keeping the patient’s comfort in mind.
Patients should discuss ways to minimize typhus symptoms with their doctors or other health care professionals before taking any medications or introducing anything new into their diet. Some antibiotics interact with other medications, so it’s also vital that typhoid patients tell their doctors about any medications they’re taking. People traveling outside the United States, Canada, Australia or northern Europe should be vaccinated against typhoid before their travels to minimize the risk of contracting the infection.
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