A Reappraisal of Clinical Characteristics of Typhoid Fever

Recent reports from developing countries show that the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of typhoid have significantly altered often leading to missed diagnosis. The incidence of complications is also reported to be variable. The consequence of missed diagnosis is immense in terms of burden on limited health resources and patients’ suffering. Therefore, its clinical spectrum requires constant reappraisal to update our physicians with current knowledge. This study was carried out to determine the changes in clinical pattern of typhoid fever.Clinical presentation of most typhoid fever still conforms with the classic pattern. High fever, anorexia, coated tongue, diarrhoea, relative leucopenia and hepatosplenomegaly are still common manifestations of typhoid fever. So, majority of the patients could be treated blindly based on clinical diagnosis. However, treatment should be given with first line of drugs like cefexime or ceftriaxone.