Typhoid Fever Signs and Symptoms
Although children who contract typhoid fever typically become sick faster, among older children and adults, the symptoms build gradually, over a two- to three-week period.
Early typhoid fever symptoms include:
- Headaches and body aches
- Dry cough
- Fever (up to 104° F)
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of energy
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Rash of rose-colored spots, in some cases
People who don’t undergo treatment at this stage of the illness can move into a second stage of symptoms, which include:
- Ongoing high fever
- Continued diarrhea or severe constipation
- Dramatic weight loss
- Distended abdomen
If left untreated, typhoid fever can become life-threatening during the third and fourth weeks of infection and beyond.