Typhoid Fever: Treatment in Nigeria
Updated July 2026 · Educational information — not a substitute for a doctor or pharmacist
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi, spread through food and water contaminated by an infected person's stool. It is common in Nigeria wherever clean water and sanitation are limited, and it can be serious — untreated typhoid can perforate the intestine.
Typhoid is also one of Nigeria's most over-diagnosed illnesses. A single positive Widal test is not proof of typhoid: the test cross-reacts with malaria and past infections, which is why so many people are told they have 'typhoid and malaria' together. Genuine diagnosis relies on the clinical picture, and ideally blood culture, interpreted by a clinician.
Real typhoid is treated with a full course of an effective antibiotic. Which antibiotic is appropriate depends on severity and local resistance — fluoroquinolone resistance is rising in West Africa — so this is a decision for a doctor, not the counter.
Signs & symptoms
- Fever that rises gradually over several days and won't break
- Abdominal pain, bloating, or discomfort
- Headache and marked weakness
- Constipation or diarrhoea (either can occur)
- Poor appetite; sometimes a coated tongue
- In severe cases: confusion, severe abdominal pain, or blood in stool — emergency
Medicines used for typhoid fever in Nigeria
Each medicine links to its full guide — uses, dosage forms, current naira prices, and NAFDAC-registered brands. Diagnosis and dosing belong with a clinician or pharmacist.
Commonly used oral antibiotic for typhoid in adults — but resistance is rising, so use only when a clinician prescribes it
Prescription required
Oral option for uncomplicated typhoid, including where fluoroquinolone resistance is suspected
Prescription required
Injectable antibiotic for severe or complicated typhoid, given in a clinic or hospital
Prescription required
Supportive fever and headache relief alongside antibiotics
Rehydration when diarrhoea or poor intake accompanies the illness
How it's treated
Confirm before you treat. Ask for proper evaluation rather than accepting a typhoid diagnosis from a single Widal test — especially if a malaria test hasn't been done. Treating typhoid you don't have wastes an antibiotic course and drives resistance.
If typhoid is diagnosed, complete the entire antibiotic course — typically 7–14 days depending on the drug — even after the fever settles. Stopping early risks relapse and a resistant infection. Rest, fluids, and easy-to-digest food support recovery; paracetamol helps with fever.
See a doctor if…
- Fever beyond 3 days, especially with abdominal pain
- Any suspected typhoid in a child, in pregnancy, or in an older adult
- Severe abdominal pain, vomiting everything, black or bloody stool — emergency, possible perforation
- Fever persisting after completing an antibiotic course
- Before buying antibiotics for 'typhoid' diagnosed only by a Widal test
Prevention
- Drink safe water — boiled, properly treated, or from a trusted sealed source
- Wash hands with soap after the toilet and before handling food
- Be careful with roadside food and drinks made with untreated water or ice
- Typhoid conjugate vaccines exist and are being introduced in Nigeria — ask at a teaching hospital or travel clinic
Frequently asked questions
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Related conditions
This page is educational information about how typhoid fever is generally managed in Nigeria. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or a prescription. Always consult a licensed clinician or pharmacist, and verify any medicine's NAFDAC registration with our free checker before buying.