infections
Typhoid Fever
Symptoms of Typhoid Fever
Typically, a flu-like illness begins about 8 to 14 days after infection. Typhoid fever symptoms begin gradually. People may have a fever, headache, sore throat, muscle and joint pains, abdominal pains, and a dry cough. They may lose their appetite. After a few days, the temperature peaks at about 103 to 104°F (39 to 40°C), remains high for another 10 to 14 days, and returns to normal during the fourth week after symptoms started. Often the heartbeat is slow, and people feel exhausted. When the infection is severe, they may become delirious. During the second week, a rash of flat, rose-colored spots develops on the chest and abdomen in about 10 to 20% of people. People may be constipated at first, but after 2 weeks, diarrhea may occur. In about 1 to 2% of people, the intestine is torn (perforated) or bleeds. A few people have severe, sometimes life-threatening bleeding. If infection spreads to other organs, symptoms of those infections may also develop. In about 8 to 10% of untreated people, symptoms return about 2 weeks after the fever goes away. 