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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffAntibiotic therapy is the only effective treatment for typhoid fever.
Commonly prescribed antibiotics
In the United States, doctors often prescribe ciprofloxacin for nonpregnant adults. Ceftriaxone — an injectable antibiotic — is an alternative for women who are pregnant and for children who may not be candidates for ciprofloxacin. These drugs can cause side effects, and long-term use can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
Problems with antibiotic resistance
In the past, the drug of choice was chloramphenicol. Doctors no longer commonly use it, however, because of side effects, a high relapse rate and widespread bacterial resistance. In fact, the existence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a growing problem in the treatment of typhoid, especially in the developing world. In recent years, S. typhi also has proved resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ampicillin.
Supportive therapy
Other treatment steps aimed at managing symptoms include:
- Drinking fluids. This helps prevent the dehydration that results from a prolonged fever and diarrhea. If you're severely dehydrated, you may need to receive fluids through a vein in your arm (intravenously).
- Eating a healthy diet. Nonbulky, high-calorie meals can help replace the nutrients you lose when you're sick.
- Hohmann EL. Epidemiology, microbiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of typhoid fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 8, 2010.
- Hohmann EL. Pathogenesis of typhoid fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 8, 2010.
- Mintz E. The pre-travel consultation: Travel-related vaccine-preventable diseases: Typhoid and paratyphoid fever. In: Brunette GW, et al. CDC Health Information for International Travel 2010. Atlanta, Ga.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; 2009. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/typhoid-paratyphoid-fever.aspx. Accessed March 9, 2010.
- Typhoid fever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/typhoidfever_g.htm. Accessed March 9, 2010.
- Levine MM. Typhoid fever. In: Brachman PS, et al. Bacterial infections of humans: Epidemiology and control. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: Springer; 2009:913.
- Bhutta ZA. Current concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of typhoid fever. British Medical Journal. 2006;333:78.
- Kaye KS, et al. Salmonella infections (including typhoid fever). In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/187350346-3/0/1492/1157.html?tocnode=54626101&fromURL=1157.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50334-7_14301. Accessed March 9, 2010.
- Hohmann EL. Treatment and prevention of typhoid fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 8, 2010.
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