Typhoid fever
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms are likely to develop gradually — often appearing one to three weeks after exposure to the disease.
Early illness
Signs and symptoms include:
- Fever that starts low and increases daily, possibly reaching as high as 104.9 F (40.5 C)
- Headache
- Weakness and fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Sweating
- Dry cough
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Rash
- Extremely swollen stomach
Later illness
Without treatment, you may:
- Become delirious
- Lie motionless and exhausted with your eyes half-closed in what's known as the typhoid state
Life-threatening complications often develop at this time.
In some people, signs and symptoms may return up to two weeks after the fever has subsided.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor immediately if you think you might have typhoid fever. If you live in the United States and become sick while traveling in a foreign country, call the U.S. Consulate for a list of doctors.
If you have signs and symptoms after you return home, consider seeing a doctor who focuses on international travel medicine or infectious diseases. A doctor who is familiar with these areas may be able to recognize and treat your illness more quickly.