Typhoid fever symptoms may appear 3 to 60 days after infection. While some people experience only mild symptoms, the condition can be quite serious. Common symptoms include high fever, weakness, stomach pains, and a rash of flat, rose-colored spots. If left untreated, other typhoid fever symptoms may develop, including intestinal bleeding, hepatitis, meningitis, and even death.
Typhoid Fever Symptoms: An Overview
When a person becomes infected with the bacteria
(Salmonella typhi) that cause
typhoid fever, the bacteria begin to multiply and spread into the bloodstream. After 3 to 60 days,
typhoid fever symptoms can occur. This period between becoming infected and the start of symptoms is called the typhoid fever incubation period.
Typhoid fever symptoms vary among individuals. Some will have mild symptoms, while others could have very serious symptoms, including death.
Common Typhoid Fever Symptoms
The most common typhoid fever symptoms include:
- Fever as high as 103° to 104° F (39° to 40° C)
- Weakness
- Stomach pains
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Decreased heart rate
- Constipation
- Bloody nose
- Rash of flat, rose-colored spots.
What Happens If Typhoid Fever Symptoms Go Untreated?
For someone who does not receive
typhoid fever treatment, the high fever can continue for four to eight weeks. Other typhoid fever symptoms that may appear in someone who is not treated include:
- Severe loss of appetite
- Intestinal bleeding
- Weight loss
- Hepatitis
- Meningitis
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Arthritis
- Osteomyelitis
- Orchitis
- Parotitis
- Death.
Typhoid Fever Symptoms: Final Thoughts
These possible typhoid fever symptoms are not always a sure sign of the illness. Other common conditions can cause several of these symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these possible typhoid fever symptoms, visit your doctor so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated. If you are traveling, call the U.S. Consulate for a list of recommended doctors.
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