Typhoid Diet

Typhoid fever is also known as typhoid and is a widespread ailment in many parts of the world.  Typhoid spreads through the contamination of food and water and so it is not very common here in the US and other developed nations with stringent sanitation procedures. The contamination of the main water supply to an area can result in a typhoid epidemic and this can result in severe strain on the existing medical infrastructure. The bacteria that cause this infection are called salmonella typhosa and children and those with lower immunity levels are at a higher risk of contracting this disease as compared to adults. It is important to note that this condition can be fatal if it is not treated and so an early diagnosis and treatment plan is essential. A typhoid diet plan is necessary to bolster the patient's immune system as well as reduce the severity of the symptoms.

Symptoms, Treatment & Diet Plan Of Typhoid

Symptoms

A progressive high fever is generally the earliest warning sign of typhoid.

• Stage1: the patient has a high progressive fever along with profuse sweating, headaches and cough.
• Stage2: the patient's fever remains elevated but stops its rapid progress and generally peaks in the afternoons. Delirium is a common symptom of this stage of typhoid.
• Stage3: the third stage of typhoid poses serious health risks such as intestinal hemorrhage and/or perforation. Some of the health complications that occur during this =stage can even be fatal.
• Stage4: the fourth and last stage of typhoid is marked by the slow reduction in fever. However, the patient continues to suffer from delirium during this stage.

Treatment

Typhoid treatment consists of various types of antibiotic medications such as ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and the type of recommended antibiotic medication depends on the levels of antibiotic resistance in that particular region. In cases where antibiotic resistance is low, ciprofloxacin is generally recommended but higher levels of resistance may require stronger medications such as ceftriaxone. There are also several recommended dietary and lifestyle changes   to control the effects of typhoid.

Diet Plan

A typhoid diet is an important part of the treatment for typhoid. Dietary precautions and treatment are a must to treat the condition as well as prevent a relapse. Typhoid results in gastrointestinal conditions and so it is important to follow a diet that contains foods that are easy to digest. These foods during typhoid will also help your immune system recover as quickly as possible. Soft foods are easy to digest and so the first requirement of any typhoid dietary treatment plan is that all the included foods are mashed or at least cooked until they are very soft. Slightly overcooked rice along with yogurt should be included in a diet for typhoid patients as rice contains a small amount of fiber that helps to regulate the digestive system while yogurt contains healthy cultures that reduce the severity of stomach flu. Avoid milk as it is tougher to digest and is likely to aggravate diarrhea. Juices and carbohydrate rich items such as steamed fruits are very important. The typhoid diet for vegetarians is the same as the diet plan for non-vegetarians as animal products are restricted during this period. Meat is tough to digest and can aggravate diarrhea, gas, and other such digestive problems. However, in some cases, the doctor may recommend modest quantities of poultry meats, as they are an excellent source of protein. Steamed and finely shredded chicken can be added to a soup to increase the patient's protein intake.

Foods for typhoid fever include homemade vegetable soups with no additional spices. Buttermilk and softened soda crackers are good options while bland rice pudding, porridge, and custard are also good typhoid foods. The profuse sweating results in a drastic loss of fluids, vitamins, and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. It is therefore important to include a variety of well steamed fruits and vegetables in the patient's typhoid diet and treatment plan. Ask your doctor for a list of foods that you can eat and include these in your typhoid diet chart. In addition to the foods that you need to include in your diet there are also several typhoid food restrictions.  

Foods To Avoid 

There are certain typhoid dietary precautions that you need to keep in mind, as this will help to ease your discomfort. Avoid high fiber foods like whole grains and raw vegetables as these can place additional stress on your digestive system. When you have typhoid, foods to avoid also include vegetables like cabbage, capsicum and turnip as these can cause bloating and gas. Avoid all spices as far as possibly, especially hot seasonings such as pepper, Cayenne and chili powder. After typhoid, diet continues to be very important, as it is a vital part of the recuperative stage. A post typhoid diet should include a low fiber soft diet which is still easy on your digestive system. A typhoid recovery diet plan should alsoinclude yogurt and eggs as they are easier to digest that the more complex proteins. Vegetarians can start to include lentils, legumes and even cottage cheese, in their diet.  The diet after typhoid fever needs to be maintained carefully to avoid a relapse of the infection. A typhoid diet should also help to replace lost electrolytes and minerals and so thick broths would be a good option. Typhoid patients need to drink 500 ml every day.

As children tend to succumb to typhoid the most, their typhoid diet is quite important. You need to keep giving liquids to your child. You can give barley water, juice and vegetable soups along with electrolyte fortified water. A typical typhoid diet for children would also include tapioca puddings and custards, ice cream, buttermilk, whey, strained cornmeal, soft boiled eggs, soft toast apple sauce, and jellies. It is essential that you discuss your child's diet plan with the pediatrician.