Duration and prognosis | What is typhoid fever?

Duration and prognosis

Typhoid fever usually lasts about 3 weeks, which means that the symptoms subside 3 weeks after the onset of the first symptoms. The incubation period, i.e. the time between infection and appearance of the symptoms, usually lasts about 2 weeks, but in some cases it can last up to 2 months. After the symptoms have subsided, the prognosis for typhoid fever is usually good. Occasionally, complications may occur, including bleeding in the intestines or inflammation of the meninges, including meningitis. A past infection with the typhoid fever pathogens does not provide lifelong immunity to the disease.

Course of disease

The course of typhoid fever can be divided into three stages in which different symptoms occur.

  • The first week of illness with slight fever and constipation is also called the stage incrementi, i.e. the increase.
  • In the second, so-called stage fastigii, the peak of the disease, the symptoms are at their maximum.
  • After this stage, which lasts about 2 weeks, the symptoms subside again. This is also called the stage decrementi, i.e. the decrease.

What can be late effects of typhoid fever?

Approximately 5% of all people suffering from typhoid fever are then permanently excreted, which represents a high risk for people in the vicinity. This must be treated with antibiotics. In addition, typhoid fever can occasionally lead to further complications, which theoretically can affect any organ.

More often, the intestine is affected and bleeding or a perforation can occur, causing holes in the intestinal wall. Other complications may include inflammation of the meninges, also called meningitis, or kidney failure. Paratyphoid fever is also an infectious disease similar to typhoid fever.

However, it is transmitted by another type of salmonella, which can affect animals as well as humans. Paratyphoid fever often occurs in India, the Balkan region and Pakistan. In contrast to typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever causes more frequent diarrhea. Otherwise, the symptoms, diagnosis and therapy of typhoid fever are similar.