The Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan > Diseases and Conditions

​Typhoid

Typhoid is caused by a special kind of bacteria which is usually deposited in contaminated water or food that serve as carriers when consumed. It can also be contracted by coming into close contact with an infected person.

Vaccines for typhoid are available at the Family Health Service Line at the Aga Khan University Hospital. They only partially immunize you and may obstruct you from catching the bacteria. However, these vaccines are beneficial if you are traveling to a country which is a high-risk zone.

The symptoms take around 2 weeks to show once you have been infected by the disease. The normal course of this disease is around 4 weeks. The symptoms occur in two phases:

First phase:

  • Fever that starts low but goes as high as 104.9 F (40.5 C)

  • Weakness, tiredness and fatigue

  • Muscle cramps

  • Excessive sweating

  • Splitting headache

  • Loss of appetite

  • Extremely swollen abdomen

  • Cough without presence of phlegm

  • Weight loss

  • Diarrhea or constipation

  • Abdominal pain

  • Chest congestion

Second Phase:

  • In case the first set of symptoms are not treated, you may fall back in a state of delirium

  • You may lay down eyes open, staring at one spot for long. This is known as a typhoid state

  • Life threatening issues may also arise if the symptoms are not treated at the right time​​

If any of the above symptoms prevail or you witness a pattern in your fever, which goes down and goes up, consult the doctors working with the Internal Medicine Service Line ​at The Aga Khan University Hospital. You can also consult the Family Health Services at the Aga Khan University Hospital for a preliminary examination.​​
Your time with your doctor maybe limited, so make sure to prepare for your visit beforehand. Here are some tips to help get you started.​
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Your doctor may advise:

  • Blood cultures: mainstay of definitive diagnosis.
  • Other tests: Urine &/or stool cultures may also be requested. A complete blood count and CRP are also usually done.
Please note that in endemic areas like Pakistan, serological tests that detect antibodies against Salmonella Typhi (bacteria that causes typhoid) are not advised and are not helpful.

Disclaimer: Kindly consult your physician before getting the above-mentioned tests.​
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You will be prescribed medications from our doctors in the attempts to cure the diseases. For severe cases of typhoid, our doctors may also prescribe a longer course of medication.


The Aga Khan University Hospital offers various support services to help with managing or recovering from the disease or condition. These include but are not limited to nutrition, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, specialized clinics and some patient support groups. Your doctor or nurse will advise you accordingly.

The Aga Khan University Hospital offers financial assistance to those who are in need and fulfil the eligibility criteria. For further information, you can contact the Patient Welfare Department. You can find the contact number of the Patient Welfare Department in the ‘Important Numbers’ section on the website homepage.

The financial counselling staff is available during office hours, at the main PBSD (Patient Business Services Department), to answer your financial queries on treatments’ costs and authorize admissions on partial deposit as per hospital policies allow. The financial counsellor in the emergency room is open 24/7. You can find the contact number of the Patient Business Services in the ‘Important Numbers’ section on the website homepage.​

Your doctor and or nurse will give you specific instructions about the prescribed medication. Please ensure that you take or use the prescribed medicine as advised. It can be dangerous to your health if you self-prescribe. Please inform the doctor or nurse beforehand if you have experienced any adverse reactions to any medications in the past. If you experience any symptoms of drug poisoning, overdose or severe reaction please contact the Pharmacy Service at The Aga Khan University Hospital immediately. You can find the contact number of the Pharmacy Services in the ‘Important Numbers’ section on the website homepage.​
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The information provided on our website is for educational purposes and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always seek the advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional provider.