HomeAnswersInternal Medicinetyphoid

Which typhoid fever antibiotic is best for a 36-year-old?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am a 36-year-old male patient. I have been suffering from typhoid for the past one month. After getting my pathology report, the doctor advised me to take one week medication of tablet Cefuroxime 500 mg twice a day. Before this, I had Azithromycin 500 mg.

  1. Is the advice given by the doctor correct?
  2. Which antibiotic will be effective for me?

I have attached my pathology test report for your reference, which includes the Widal test, the latex method for typhoid - TO= 1 : 160, typhoid -TH= 1 : 160, para-typhoid-AO=nil, para-typhoid-AH=1: 80, para-typhoid-BO=Nil, para-typhoid-BH=1: 80.

I shall be grateful for your kind reply.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Naresh Kumar Monigari

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Naresh Kumar Monigari is a General Practitioner and a Family Physician with expertise in providing comprehensive primary healthcare services. He is well-versed in the diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic illnesses. He is an expert in addressing health concerns across all age groups. He gives patient education on disease prevention and wellness. He gives coordination of care with specialists when needed.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have reviewed all the details you provided, including the attachment (which has been removed to protect patient identity). I would like to gather more information about your illness.

  1. When you mentioned suffering from this illness for one month, could you please clarify what exactly you mean?
  2. Have you been experiencing continuous fever for the past month?
  3. Additionally, do you have any abdominal pain? Regarding the Azithromycin dosage, how many doses have you taken so far?

I would like to note that the role of serology in diagnosing typhoid fever is limited. If you do not have fever or any other symptoms besides a positive serology report, it is unlikely that you require treatment. More specific investigations for diagnosis of typhoid is blood culture or serology showing titer more than 1:320 or rising titer.

In terms of medication, it is generally recommended to use third-generation Cephalosporin over second-generation ones, such as Cefuroxime. You can use Cefixime 200 mg, one tablet in the morning and one at night for 10 days. This treatment is indicated only if you have a fever or issues related to typhoid fever.

Consult your doctor, discuss with him or her and take the medicine with consent. If you are not experiencing fever, it may be advisable to repeat the Widal test to see if there is a rising titer, which could suggest an acute infection requiring antibiotics.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or if there is anything else I can assist you with.

I hope it helps.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At September 15, 2017
Reviewed At April 17, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Naresh Kumar Monigari is a General Practitioner and a Family Physician with expertise in providing comprehensive primary healthcare services. He is well-versed in the diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic illnesses. He is an expert in addressing health concerns across all age groups. He gives patient education on disease prevention and wellness. He gives coordination of care with specialists when needed.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

2,876Checks completed today
4.8/5User rating
~2 minAverage completion time
WHO alignedGuideline aligned
Decision Helper
Typhoid Fever Widal Test Antibiotic Decision Helper

Which typhoid antibiotic is right for you?

Answer five quick questions to understand if your current symptoms and test results suggest a need for antibiotic treatment or further medical evaluation for typhoid fever.

This tool provides general guidance and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Naresh Kumar Monigari is a General Practitioner and a Family Physician with expertise in providing comprehensive primary healthcare services. He is well-versed in the diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic illnesses. He is an expert in addressing health concerns across all age groups. He gives patient education on disease prevention and wellness. He gives coordination of care with specialists when needed.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Listen to related tracks in our music library
Comprehensive Second Opinion

Ask your health query to a doctor online

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.