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What Casues Severe Rib Pain While On Typhoid Treatment?

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Posted on Thu, 21 Aug 2014
Question: My wife was diagnosed with Typhoid few days back and her platelet count had fallen to 119000. She was prescribed 5 days medicine antibiotic and platelet boosting medication. She feels fine now except for a shooting pain in her ribs. It gets unbearable at times. She also vomited today. What could be the reason? What is suggested course of action?The medication prescribed to her for typhoid (5 day course) included an antibiotic called FIXX AZ (2 tablets twoce daily), Platboost to increase platelet count, pain killer, fever medication etc. While most symptoms are gone, ribs pain and voiting is there now. she did the complete 5 day course. We also checked platelet in between once and it had increased to 136000.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Possibility of Costo-chondritis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

The most probable cause for the shooting pain in the ribs may be costo-chondritis. This happens after viral fever and typhoid. There is affection of the Chondral area of the ribs to to toxemia or septicemia of typhoid. This has a precarious blood supply hence the edema comes fast but is not drained away causing the pains. One can elicit the pain on pressure where the patients is pointing at. You may please check yourself or ask the Doctor for this test.
She Needs the following treatment: Rest, hot fomentation, avoid exposure to cold and cloudy atmosphere, local rubrafacient creams like fast-relief, Anti-inflammatory Medicines with painkiller properties. Steroid - although the best - are best avoided in case typhoid.
I hope X-ray chest is normal, get it done if not yet done.

The vomiting could have been due to due to reflex of pain or the gastritis associated with typhoid and medicines. Domperidone and Ranitidine will take care of this.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (44 minutes later)
do we need to continue medication for typhoid if this is the case?
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
14 days of cefixime or Amoxicillin

Detailed Answer:
FIXX AZ (2 tablets twice daily) for 5 days is sufficient. We do still recommend to continue with Fixx alone( no AZ) or Amoxicillin to complete the course of 14 days for a cure , to kill the bacteria in the gallbladder and liver and spleen. This helps to avoid recurrence unless one is getting contaminated food or beverages/ water.

Please discuss this with your Physician as the trends of typhoid infection, susceptibility to particular antibiotic/s, curative dose is area-dependent, so that the Physician in your area is more conversant for the situations in your area of residence.

This may not have a bearing on the pains she has.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (5 minutes later)
Last question - she has also developed boils near her mouth area. specifically above on her upper lip and below the nose. Is this due to medication or is it an infection too. If so is there any relation and how can that be cured? please see image.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Herpes simplex- cold sores

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the photograph.
This is herpes simplex and also called as cold sores. This appears due to reduced body resistance, and in this case due to typhoid. This is not due to medication and is due to virus infection. There is no cure for this. It will heal on its own.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
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Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19779 Questions

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What Casues Severe Rib Pain While On Typhoid Treatment?

Brief Answer: Possibility of Costo-chondritis Detailed Answer: Hi. The most probable cause for the shooting pain in the ribs may be costo-chondritis. This happens after viral fever and typhoid. There is affection of the Chondral area of the ribs to to toxemia or septicemia of typhoid. This has a precarious blood supply hence the edema comes fast but is not drained away causing the pains. One can elicit the pain on pressure where the patients is pointing at. You may please check yourself or ask the Doctor for this test. She Needs the following treatment: Rest, hot fomentation, avoid exposure to cold and cloudy atmosphere, local rubrafacient creams like fast-relief, Anti-inflammatory Medicines with painkiller properties. Steroid - although the best - are best avoided in case typhoid. I hope X-ray chest is normal, get it done if not yet done. The vomiting could have been due to due to reflex of pain or the gastritis associated with typhoid and medicines. Domperidone and Ranitidine will take care of this.