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Nephrology141 papers

Typhoid fever

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, is a systemic infection characterized by prolonged fever, headache, malaise, and gastrointestinal symptoms. It can lead to severe complications including perforation, hemorrhage, and organ-specific manifestations such as hepatitis and renal failure 78914.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Prolonged fever, headache, malaise, abdominal pain, and rose spots (in some cases) 1.
  • Laboratory Tests: Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosis 18.
  • Serological Tests: Widal test and Typhidot can be used but have variable specificity and sensitivity 18.
  • Imaging: Abdominal ultrasound or CT scan may be necessary for complications like perforation or abscess 7.
  • Management

  • First-Line Treatment: Ciprofloxacin (e.g., 400 mg twice daily for children, adjusted for adults) or ceftriaxone (e.g., 1-2 g daily) for uncomplicated typhoid fever 614.
  • Alternative Antibiotics: For ciprofloxacin-resistant cases, use azithromycin (e.g., 10 mg/kg daily) or cefixime (e.g., 800 mg twice daily) 1.
  • Supportive Care: Fluid and electrolyte management, nutritional support, and monitoring for complications 79.
  • Monitoring: Regular assessment for signs of severe complications such as renal failure, hemorrhage, and disseminated intravascular coagulation 6914.
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Adjust antibiotic dosages based on weight; monitor closely for complications like pancytopenia and renal failure 36.
  • Comorbidities: Patients with underlying conditions like G6PD deficiency may require additional monitoring for hemolysis and renal complications 9.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Use Blood Culture for Confirmation: Blood culture should be the primary diagnostic tool for confirming typhoid fever (Evidence: Strong 18).
  • Initiate Appropriate Antibiotic Therapy: Start with ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone for uncomplicated cases; switch to azithromycin or cefixime if resistance is suspected (Evidence: Strong 16).
  • Monitor for Severe Complications: Regularly assess patients for signs of severe complications including renal failure, hemorrhage, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, especially in pediatric and immunocompromised populations (Evidence: Moderate 6914).
  • References

    1 Longley AT, Date K, Luby SP, Bhatnagar P, Bentsi-Enchill AD, Goyal V et al.. Evaluation of Vaccine Safety After the First Public Sector Introduction of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine-Navi Mumbai, India, 2018. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2021. link 2 Begier EM, Burwen DR, Haber P, Ball R. Postmarketing safety surveillance for typhoid fever vaccines from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, July 1990 through June 2002. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2004. link 3 Sood R, Roy S, Kaushik P. Typhoid fever with severe pancytopenia. Postgraduate medical journal 1997. link 4 Swales JD. Frederick Akbar Mahomed (1849-1884): pioneer of clinical research. Journal of human hypertension 1996. link 5 Karthikeyan G, Mahadevan S. Cutaneous ulcers in typhoid fever. The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 1994. link 6 Simpson J, Watson AR, Mellersh A, Nelson CS, Dodd K. Typhoid fever, ciprofloxacin, and renal failure. Archives of disease in childhood 1991. link 7 Gibney EJ. Typhoid perforation. The British journal of surgery 1989. link 8 Mahmood BA. Typhoid hepatitis: two case reports. Bangladesh Medical Research Council bulletin 1989. link 9 Onwubalili JK. Haemoglobinuric renal failure and typhoid fever. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1988. link90171-x) 10 Fernández M, Sierra-Madero J, de la Vega H, Vázquez M, López-Vidal Y, Ruíz-Palacios GM et al.. Molecular cloning of a Salmonella typhi LT-like enterotoxin gene. Molecular microbiology 1988. link 11 Fusco R, Magli A, Guacci P. Stellate maculopathy due to Salmonella typhi. A case report. Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde 1986. link 12 Vinci GG, Mattaliano A. An electrophysiological investigation on typhoid polyneuritis. Italian journal of neurological sciences 1984. link 13 Buka I, Coovadia HM. Typhoid glomerulonephritis. Archives of disease in childhood 1980. link 14 Rao PN, Bhusnurmath SR, Naik SR. Typhoid fever manifesting with haematemesis, hepatitis and haemolysis. The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 1978. link 15 Esposito VM. Agar plaque formation by mouse spleen cells in response to vaccination with Vi antigen and typhoid vaccines. Journal of bacteriology 1969. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Evaluation of Vaccine Safety After the First Public Sector Introduction of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine-Navi Mumbai, India, 2018.Longley AT, Date K, Luby SP, Bhatnagar P, Bentsi-Enchill AD, Goyal V et al. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (2021)
    2. [2]
      Postmarketing safety surveillance for typhoid fever vaccines from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, July 1990 through June 2002.Begier EM, Burwen DR, Haber P, Ball R Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (2004)
    3. [3]
      Typhoid fever with severe pancytopenia.Sood R, Roy S, Kaushik P Postgraduate medical journal (1997)
    4. [4]
      Frederick Akbar Mahomed (1849-1884): pioneer of clinical research.Swales JD Journal of human hypertension (1996)
    5. [5]
      Cutaneous ulcers in typhoid fever.Karthikeyan G, Mahadevan S The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (1994)
    6. [6]
      Typhoid fever, ciprofloxacin, and renal failure.Simpson J, Watson AR, Mellersh A, Nelson CS, Dodd K Archives of disease in childhood (1991)
    7. [7]
      Typhoid perforation.Gibney EJ The British journal of surgery (1989)
    8. [8]
      Typhoid hepatitis: two case reports.Mahmood BA Bangladesh Medical Research Council bulletin (1989)
    9. [9]
      Haemoglobinuric renal failure and typhoid fever.Onwubalili JK Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (1988)
    10. [10]
      Molecular cloning of a Salmonella typhi LT-like enterotoxin gene.Fernández M, Sierra-Madero J, de la Vega H, Vázquez M, López-Vidal Y, Ruíz-Palacios GM et al. Molecular microbiology (1988)
    11. [11]
      Stellate maculopathy due to Salmonella typhi. A case report.Fusco R, Magli A, Guacci P Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde (1986)
    12. [12]
      An electrophysiological investigation on typhoid polyneuritis.Vinci GG, Mattaliano A Italian journal of neurological sciences (1984)
    13. [13]
      Typhoid glomerulonephritis.Buka I, Coovadia HM Archives of disease in childhood (1980)
    14. [14]
      Typhoid fever manifesting with haematemesis, hepatitis and haemolysis.Rao PN, Bhusnurmath SR, Naik SR The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (1978)
    15. [15]

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