Typhoid – What to Eat and What to Avoid?

Introduction

Typhoid fever, caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi, is a highly infectious disease that affects millions worldwide, with around 17 million cases and over 600,000 deaths annually. This illness is particularly common during the monsoon season when poor sanitation and contaminated water increase the risk of infection. If left untreated, typhoid can lead to serious complications, making immediate medical care essential. 

Alongside treatment, proper nutrition plays a vital role in recovery, helping the body regain strength and heal effectively. In this blog, we’ll explore the foods to include and avoid for a smoother recovery from typhoid.

Friendly Reminder: The information shared here is for educational purposes only, and the reader should consult a registered medical practitioner before implementing any changes to their health routine.

Common Typhoid Symptoms

• Chills and fever – Fever usually presents in the step ladder pattern^[2]
• Abdominal pain and discomfort – Some patients complain of abdominal pain
• Constipation followed by diarrhoea^[3]
• Fatigue^[2]
• Rash
• Headaches^[2]
• Nausea
• Reduced appetite
• Enlargement of the spleen and liver

Quick Guide to Typhoid Fever

Cause

• Caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria through contaminated food or water.

Who is At Risk

• Individuals with poor hygiene practices, especially during food preparation and consumption, are at a higher risk of contracting typhoid.
• Those who frequently consume food or beverages from outside sources without ensuring proper hygiene are particularly vulnerable.

Treatment

Typhoid should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Your doctor will prescribe the treatment and symptomatic management after evaluating your health.

• Antibiotic tablets for 7-14 days.
• Severe cases may require intravenous antibiotics^[4] under medical supervision or in a hospital.
• Hydration^[5] and nutrition are to be maintained well. 

 Possible Complications of Typhoid

When left untreated, typhoid can lead to life-threatening complications like:

• Sepsis^[9]
• Internal bleeding
• Intestinal perforation^[7]

Diagnosis

• A doctor can advise blood, urine, and stool tests^[6] for typhoid to confirm the diagnosis of typhoid. 
• Self-diagnosis should be avoided because the type of test advised usually depends on the days passed since the first symptoms appear.
•  More than one or even repeat tests may be needed in some cases.

Prevention 

• Vaccination^[8] – Talk to your doctor about vaccines for typhoid. Typhoid vaccines are often recommended to people who frequently consume food from outside.
•  Consume safe drinking water and home-cooked meals. 
• Avoid beverages and uncooked or unsafe food from outside.

Doctor’s Nutritional Tips for Typhoid Recovery

Once diagnosed with typhoid, following your doctor’s advice and taking prescribed medicines is important. Dietary advice may vary for different individuals, some common tips that may help are listed below:

1. Increase Carbohydrate Intake: Add foods like porridge, curd-rice, baked potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
2. Offer Semi-Solid Foods: Semi-solid foods like khichdi, daliya, mashed boiled potatoes, porridge, boiled rice, and yoghurt are easy to digest.
3. Provide Adequate Fluids: Give fruit juices, buttermilk, soups, glucose water, coconut water, and water-rich fruits to keep the body hydrated.
4. Include High-Calorie Foods: Foods like bananas and sweet potatoes help boost calorie intake. These are easy to digest.
5. Increase Dairy Intake: Include cottage cheese, buttermilk, and yoghurt in the diet.
6. Give Nutritious Soups: Soups like spinach, vegetables, and carrot soup are good options.
7. Ensure Proper Hydration: Make sure the patient drinks enough water, and ensure it is boiled and filtered properly^[5].
8. Include Simple Yellow Dal: Boiled yellow dal is easy to digest and healthy.
9. Ensure Protein Intake: Provide cottage cheese and egg whites for protein if the patient can digest it.
10. Keep Meals Light & Frequent: Serve light, easy-to-digest meals in small, frequent portions. Avoid eating too much at a time.
11. Consume Cooked Vegetables: Well-cooked or boiled vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beets, raw papaya, and squash are nutritious and easy to digest.

Food Items to Avoid

The following food items can cause additional stress on the digestive system and should be avoided for a smoother recovery.

1. Avoid High-Fibre Foods: High-fibre foods like raw vegetables, fruits, legumes, etc. are difficult to digest and put pressure on the weakened digestive system.
   
2. No Spicy or Fried Foods: Spicy foods can irritate the digestive system, while fried foods are hard to digest and should be strictly avoided.
   
3. Avoid Gas-Producing Vegetables: Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and asparagus can cause gas and bloating, which should be avoided during typhoid.
   
4. Limit Ghee and Butter: Fatty foods like ghee and butter are harder to digest and may cause complications during typhoid.
   
5. Limit Nuts & Dry Fruits: Dry fruits and nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are high in fibre, which can be hard to digest during typhoid.
   
6. Avoid Legumes: Legumes like chickpeas, lentils, and kidney beans can cause gas and bloating, which should be avoided during typhoid recovery.

Conclusion

It is important to note that typhoid is a serious medical condition. Typhoid fever treatment and food go hand in hand on the road to recovery. Always inform your doctor about your symptoms and seek their professional medical advice regarding medication, and dietary changes. All the above-mentioned foods are only an added help for typhoid recovery and should not be considered as a replacement for medication.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

1. National Health Mission (NHM). Guidelines for the control of Enteric Fever. National Health Mission; [cited 2025 Feb 4]. Available from: https://nhm.gov.in/images/pdf/guidelines/nrhm-guidelines/stg/enteric-fever.pdf
2. NHS. Typhoid fever [Internet]. [cited 2021 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/typhoid-fever/complications/
3. NHS. Typhoid fever: Symptoms. [cited 2025 Feb 25]. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/typhoid-fever/symptoms/ 
4. Current trends in the management of typhoid fever. [cited 2025 Feb 25]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377123703800606
5. Bhutta ZA. Diagnosis and treatment of typhoid fever. BMJ. 2006 Jul 8;333(7558):78-82. [cited 2025 Feb 25]. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1489205/
6. Olsen SJ, Pruckler J, Bibb W, et al. Rapid diagnostic tests for typhoid fever. J Clin Microbiol. 2004 May;42(5):1885-9. [cited 2025 Feb 25]. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC404619/
7. Marchello CS, Birkhold M, Crump JA. Complications and mortality of typhoid fever: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Infect. 2020 Dec;81(6):902-910. [cited 2025 Feb 25]. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7754788/ 
8. Im J, Khanam F, Ahmmed F, et al. Prevention of Typhoid Fever by improvements in household water, sanitation, hygiene, and the Vi Polysaccharide Typhoid Vaccine. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022 Mar 7;106(4):1149-1155. [cited 2025 Feb 25]. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8991341/
9. Bhandari J, Thada PK, Hashmi MF, et al. Typhoid Fever. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. [cited 2025 Feb 25]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557513/

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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