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Typhoid Fever During Pregnancy

Any kind of infection or health problem during the course of pregnancy can have a negative impact on the baby and this also includes typhoid during pregnancy. In most instances, patients suffering from typhoid lose their appetite and need to be put on a liquid diet. As a result of this, suffering from typhoid during pregnancy, can deprive you and your baby of essential nutrients, which in turn has an adverse effect on the growth and development of your baby. Studies show that this infection also causes anemia in pregnant women.

It usually takes around seven to fourteen days for the symptoms of typhoid to appear. The signs of typhoid fever during pregnancy are no different as compared to the regular symptoms. If left untreated, the signs could last for up to 4 week and new symptoms may crop up regularly. Given below are the initial signs of typhoid during pregnancy:

• Fever that rises gradually
• Pain in the abdomen
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Dry cough
• Dull headache
• Mental confusion or delirium
• Skin rash
• Feeling of being unwell

As typhoid during pregnancy progresses to the second week your abdomen will swell more than what is normal. In the third week of the infection, the commonly observed are:

• Appetite loss accompanied by weight loss
• Physical exhaustion
• Diarrhea with foul-smelling, water and yellowish stool
• Rapid breathing
• Confusion

In case any of these symptoms are evident during pregnancy, it is essential to undergo a typhoid test at the earliest. Testing for typhoid before the fifth day of infection will not give you an accurate diagnosis.

Under normal circumstances, patients are required to take an injection to treat this infection. However, most women are apprehensive about taking typhoid vaccine during pregnancy. Studies show that pregnant women usually respond well to ceftriaxone or amoxicillin injections. Certain vaccines like Ciproflaxin should be strictly avoided by pregnant women in the first two trimesters; however, some doctors may recommend it for treating typhoid during third trimester of pregnancy. In addition to these vaccines, doctors also usually prescribe certain medicines to treat the infection.

Many women are highly concerned about being infected by typhoid while breastfeeding. While the fever does not get transmitted from the mother to the baby through breast milk, the antibiotics being taken by the mother could have an adverse effect on the baby in some cases. Therefore, in case you are suffering from typhoid, it is better to inquire with your doctor about breastfeeding.

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