Typhoid is a common illness and I am sure most of you have met at least one person who has had typhoid in their lives. But do you know that typhoid has the potential to be deadly if it is not managed properly?
The World Health Organisation shared that typhoid is caused by the bacteria Salmonella Typhi which spreads through contaminated food or water or close contact with a person causing the bacteria. According to the National Health Service, one in five people with typhoid die and those who survive could have lifelong complications because of this infection.
This is often because typhoid is hard to diagnose. The typhoid bacteria isn’t always detected in the first diagnostic test, and its initial symptoms are similar to many other infectious diseases. Talking to the Onlymyhealth team, Dr Sanju Sidaraddi, Consultant, Pediatrician and Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai spoke about the frequency and complications of misdiagnosing typhoid.
Typhoid Misdiagnosis
Dr Sidaraddi said, “Typhoid fever usually presents with a high-grade fever up to 140°F that increases throughout the day.” He listed the other common symptoms of typhoid fever:
- Chills
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Coated tongue
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Stomach pain
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Rash
“Looking at these clinical features, you can easily note that they overlap with the symptoms of other infections. This creates confusion which causes typhoid fever to be often misdiagnosed as influenza, pneumonia, or even malaria,” added Dr Sidaraddi. He said that this usually happens in regions where multiple infectious diseases are prevalent.
Also Read: Dengue And Typhoid Co-Infection: Understanding The Difference And Ways To Manage Symptoms
Consequences of Misdiagnosing Typhoid
Typhoid fever must be timely and accurately diagnosed to prevent complications and fatalities. Dr Sidaraddi said, “With timely treatment, the fatality rate for typhoid fever is relatively low, approximately 1%. However, untreated or inadequately treated cases can have a higher mortality rate.”
He listed some of the complications of delayed or incorrect diagnosis of typhoid:
- Treatment Delay: Typhoid fever requires specific antibiotic treatment. A delay in diagnosis may cause prolonged illness and complications.
- Spread of Infection: If typhoid cases are misdiagnosed and not isolated, there’s a risk that you can spread it to others around you.
- Increased Severity: Untreated or inadequately treated typhoid can progress to severe complications like bleeding in the intestine, sepsis, swelling in brain tissues, and pus-filled growths in or between tissues and organs.
- Fatality: While typhoid fever is treatable, untreated cases can be fatal. Mortality rates vary, but prompt treatment significantly reduces the risk of death. The case fatality rate in India is estimated to be less than 1%.
Preventing Misdiagnosis of Typhoid
Putting the onus on healthcare professionals and doctors, Dr Sidaraddi listed a few ways that can help diagnose Typhoid accurately on time.
- Clinical Suspicion: Health-care providers should maintain a high index of suspicion for typhoid in endemic areas.
- Travel History: A detailed travel history helps differentiate between locally acquired and travel-related cases.
- Awareness: Public awareness campaigns can educate people about typhoid symptoms and the importance of seeking medical attention promptly.
- Laboratory Tests: Judicious use of blood culture and serological tests are essential for accurate diagnosis.
Factors like the patient’s overall health, age, and access to health care are major risk factors for fatality due to typhoid fever. However, one risk factor that we can mitigate is misdiagnosing typhoid fever. Dr Sidaraddi concluded that while misdiagnosis can occur, healthcare professionals play a critical role in identifying typhoid fever accurately. Public health measures, awareness, and early intervention are essential to reduce the impact of typhoid fever.