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What are the Different Types of Typhoid Treatments?

Meshell Powell
Meshell Powell

Typhoid, also referred to as typhoid fever, is a bacterial infection that frequently requires hospitalization and intensive medical treatment, although milder forms may be able to be treated at home. Antibiotic therapy is the most common of all the typhoid treatments. Other methods may include dietary changes, increased fluid intake, and bed rest. In some cases, surgical intervention may become necessary.

Antibiotic therapy is often the first line in typhoid treatments. There are several types of antibiotics that can be used to treat this condition. Unfortunately, some strains of typhoid may not respond well to these antibiotics. The doctor may order a test known as a culture to find out which antibiotics will work best in each individual situation. It typically takes a couple of days for the culture results to be available, so a combination of antibiotics may be used in the meantime.

Administering fluids via intravenous treatment may be used to prevent dehydration.
Administering fluids via intravenous treatment may be used to prevent dehydration.

Preventing dehydration is among the most important typhoid treatments. Patients are typically advised to increase fluid intake during treatment for this condition. If symptoms are severe or dehydration occurs, the patient may need to be hospitalized for further treatment. A small tube, known as an IV, may be inserted into a vein so that fluids and medications can be directly introduced into the body. The IV can usually be removed once the patient is stable and able to hold down liquids.

Complete bed rest may be necessary for some types of thyroiditis.
Complete bed rest may be necessary for some types of thyroiditis.

Dietary changes may also be necessary to treat typhoid. Additional fiber may need to be added to the diet in order to add bulk to the stool. This is generally accomplished by giving the patient a fiber supplement, as a liquid diet is generally recommended for those suffering from a typhoid infection. Orange juice and coconut milk are considered to be among the best liquids to consume while treating this condition. Complete bed rest is also recommended during typhoid recovery.

An ultrasound may be used to investigate gallbladder problems.
An ultrasound may be used to investigate gallbladder problems.

Surgical intervention may sometimes be among the necessary typhoid treatments. In many cases, a procedure known as a cholecystectomy is performed in order to surgically remove the gallbladder. This type of infection frequently becomes centered in the gallbladder, so removal of this organ often aids greatly in the recovery of the patient. If the intestines become perforated or torn due to the typhoid infection, surgery may become necessary in order to repair the damage to the intestines. Any questions or concerns about various typhoid treatments should be discussed with a doctor or other medical professional.

Discussion Comments

honeybees

@julies - There is a typhoid vaccine you can get, but some doctors are reluctant to give it depending on the situation.

I have some relatives that are foreign missionaries, and typhoid fever is common in the country where they live most of the time.

My uncle ended up having his gallbladder removed when he came down with typhoid fever. After this happened, my aunt looked into getting a vaccine so she wouldn't have to worry about it.

Sometimes when you are traveling on short trips like a vacation, there are so many things you can come down with. If you start with a vaccine for one thing, where do you stop?

If you are going to be in a country where this is prevalent, it certainly wouldn't hurt to talk to your doctor about it.

julies

Isn't there a typhoid vaccine someone can get if they know they are going to be traveling out of the country?

I have been sick more than once from bad water and unsanitary conditions and now am very cautious when it comes to eating and drinking in foreign countries.

I always make sure to drink bottled water, and would rather take the chance of going hungry than getting sick if I don't think the food is safe.

If you can prevent typhoid fever by getting a vaccine that sounds like something I would consider if I was going to a country where this was common.

bagley79

@sunshined - I live in the United States and contracted a bad case of typhoid fever when I was on vacation in Mexico.

In other parts of the world, many people still suffer from this disease. It is usually contracted from contaminated food and water.

This is something I never want to go through again. The only good thing about it was I didn't get sick until the very end of my vacation, and I was already back home.

I had a high fever that would not come down, I was extremely tired with a pounding headache, nausea and fatigue. The high fever is what really scared me.

I ended up being hospitalized to try and get my fever down. Once I was stabilized and out of danger, it still took several months and many rounds of antibiotics before I had all of my energy back.

I don't know what they do for treatment for typhoid fever for people who don't have this kind of medical treatment available to them. I am glad I was able to get the treatment I needed before it was too late.

sunshined

I haven't read about typhoid fever for a long time. Is this something that is very common in the United States?

I know back in the 1940's, there was quite a bit of typhoid fever as I remember my grandma talking about it many times. She lost more than one sibling to typhoid fever.

Back then they didn't have the typhoid fever treatment options that are available today. Because of the widespread use of antibiotics and increased sanitation practices, I didn't think typhoid fever was much of a problem anymore.

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    • Administering fluids via intravenous treatment may be used to prevent dehydration.
      By: tawesit
      Administering fluids via intravenous treatment may be used to prevent dehydration.
    • Complete bed rest may be necessary for some types of thyroiditis.
      By: april_89
      Complete bed rest may be necessary for some types of thyroiditis.
    • An ultrasound may be used to investigate gallbladder problems.
      By: acherst
      An ultrasound may be used to investigate gallbladder problems.
    • A typhoid vaccine may be beneficial to individuals who are planning to travel to certain African, Asian and Latin American countries.
      By: Fernando Madeira
      A typhoid vaccine may be beneficial to individuals who are planning to travel to certain African, Asian and Latin American countries.
    • Bacterial infections can be detected by allowing small samples to culture inside of a petri dish.
      By: A Oller
      Bacterial infections can be detected by allowing small samples to culture inside of a petri dish.
    • Increased fluid intake and bed rest are part of the treatment for typhoid.
      By: nikomi
      Increased fluid intake and bed rest are part of the treatment for typhoid.
    • A sore throat may accompany the rose-colored spots associated with typhoid fever.
      By: JackF
      A sore throat may accompany the rose-colored spots associated with typhoid fever.