Typhoid Specialist Doctor in Mumbai Typhoid fever is caused by a bacteria, Salmonella typhi. It is highly contagious. It is usually caused by contaminated food and water or close contact with an infected person. The signs and symptoms develop generally one to three weeks after exposure. The signs and symptoms include: Fever that starts low and increases daily, possibly reaching as high as 104.9 F (40.5 C), headache, weakness and fatigue, body ache, sweating, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, rash & amp; diarrhoea or constipation. A specialist should be consulted immediately, because life threatening complications often develop, if correct treatment not started at the right time. The most common complications in untreated or not treated with appropriate antibiotics include internal bleeding in the digestive system or splitting (perforation) of a section of the digestive system or bowel, which spreads the infection to nearby tissues. If diagnosed early, the infection is likely to be mild and can usually be treated at home with a 7- to 14-day course of antibiotics whereas more severe typhoid fever usually requires admission to hospital, so antibiotic injections can be given. The bacteria, causing typhoid fever, has become resistant to many of the commonly prescribed antibiotics, because of misuse and abuse of antibiotics. So it is absolutely prudent to initiate the treatment under the guidance of a specialist only at the earliest. The treatment should be prompt and under a qualified specialist only. A minority number of people who recover from typhoid fever continue to harbour the bacteria, known as chronic carriers. They no longer have signs or symptoms of the disease themselves but are capable of infecting others. The provision of safe drinking water, improved sanitation and adequate medical care can help prevent and control typhoid fever. The vaccines are available for protection against typhoid but they are not 100 per cent effective. The involvement of a specialist in prevention, treatment and control of typhoid is paramount.