Typhoid Is Far More Serious Than We Think

In Nigeria, the word "typhoid" is used almost casually. A headache? Typhoid. Fever for two days? Typhoid. Malaria symptoms that refuse to disappear after one dose of drugs? “It must be typhoid too; treat both together.”

This belief has become so common that many people treat typhoid without ever confirming its presence. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding has serious consequences, because typhoid fever is not a mild illness, and it is not something that should be guessed or assumed.

What Typhoid Really Is

Typhoid fever is a serious bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi. It is not caused by stress, weather, oily food, or “dirty blood.”

The bacteria enter the body through:

·       Contaminated food

·       Contaminated water

·       Poor hand hygiene

·       Poor sanitation

Once inside the body, the bacteria do not stay in the stomach. They spread through the bloodstream and can affect multiple organs.

As of 2019, typhoid fever affected an estimated 9 million people worldwide each year, leading to about 110,000 deaths.

How Typhoid Is Contracted

Typhoid is closely linked to environmental and hygiene conditions. Common sources include:

·       Drinking untreated or contaminated water

·       Eating food prepared with unwashed hands

·       Fruits or vegetables washed with dirty water

·       Poor sewage disposal

·       Inadequate handwashing after using the toilet

This is why typhoid is more common in areas with limited access to clean water and proper sanitation.

Why Malaria and Typhoid Are Often Confused

Malaria and typhoid share some early symptoms, which fuels confusion:

·       Fever

·       Weakness

·       Headache

·       Loss of appetite

However, similar symptoms do not mean the same disease as stated in our earlier article, "Stop Treating Malaria and Typhoid Together."

Malaria is caused by a parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Typhoid is caused by a bacterium transmitted through contaminated food and water.

Having malaria does not automatically mean someone has typhoid.

Treating both together without confirmation is unnecessary and dangerous.

Symptoms of Typhoid (Not Mild Signs)

Typhoid does not usually present as a brief or mild illness. Common symptoms include:

·       Persistent low-grade fever that lasts several days

·       Severe weakness and fatigue

·       Abdominal pain

·       Loss of appetite

·       Diarrhea (foul, green-yellow)

· Constipation

·       Headache

·       Sometimes confusion or altered mental state

As the illness progresses, symptoms become more severe, not better.

Why Typhoid Is a Serious Disease

Untreated or poorly treated typhoid can lead to:

·       Intestinal bleeding

·       Intestinal perforation (a hole in the intestine)

·       Severe dehydration

·       Bloodstream infection

·       Death

These are medical emergencies, not conditions that resolve on their own.

This is why typhoid should never be managed casually or assumed without testing.

Diagnosis: Why Guessing Is a Problem

Many people rely on:

·       Symptoms alone

·       Old Widal test results

·       Self-diagnosis

·       Advice from friends

This leads to:

·       Wrong treatment

·       Antibiotic misuse

·       Drug resistance

·       Delayed proper care

A proper medical evaluation and laboratory testing are essential before diagnosing typhoid.

Treatment of Typhoid

Typhoid requires:

·       Appropriate antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare professional

·       Adequate hydration

·       Proper monitoring

Incomplete treatment or using the wrong antibiotics can make the infection harder to treat in the future.

This is one reason antibiotic resistance is increasing in Nigeria.

The Danger of “Treating Malaria and Typhoid Together”

This practice leads to:

·       Unnecessary antibiotic use

·       Increased drug resistance

·       Masking of real illnesses

·       Worsening of untreated conditions

Not every fever is malaria. Not every persistent symptom is typhoid.

Treatment should follow diagnosis, not assumption.

Prevention: The Best Treatment

Typhoid is largely preventable through:

·       Safe drinking water

·       Proper handwashing

·       Thorough cooking of food

·       Improved sanitation

·       Avoiding unsafe street food when hygiene is questionable

Prevention is cheaper, safer, and more effective than treatment.

Final Thought

Typhoid is not a “small sickness,” and it is not something to guess or casually label. It is a serious bacterial infection that demands proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Understanding the difference between malaria and typhoid and resisting the urge to treat both blindly can save lives, reduce drug resistance, and improve health outcomes.