What Are the Treatments for Typhoid Hepatitis?

Typhoid hepatitis is a rare form of typhoid fever, characterized by an enlarged liver. Symptoms include jaundice, fever, headache, chills, sore throat, malaise and rash. A diagnosis of typhoid hepatitis is made when symptoms of typhoid are combined with liver enlargement, also known as hepatomegaly.

Cause

• Exposure to certain strains of salmonella causes typhoid. Since typhoid hepatitis is a form of typhoid fever, the cause is the same and the hepatomegaly considered a complication. Developing countries report most cases of typhoid. It's also found in people who have traveled recently to one of those countries.

Chloramphenicol

• Typhoid hepatitis responds favorably to antibiotic treatment. According to the Oxford Journal, the drug of choice is Chloramphenicol. Strains of salmonella, in Africa and Asia, have surfaced that appear to be resistant to Chloramphenicol.

Azithromycin

• Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is being used instead of Chloramphenicol to deal with the instances of drug resistance. Other antibiotics include Ciprofloxacin and Bactrim.

Prevention

• The best treatment is a preventive one. Individuals who are traveling to countries known to be active carriers of typhoid hepatitis are required to get appropriate vaccinations.