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Treated For Malaria And Typhoid Fever. Diagnosed IBS For Having Intestinal Pain, Irregular Bowel Movements And Blood In Stool
I'm a 20 year old female and I was diagnosed and treated for malaria and typhoid fever about a year and a half ago in Ghana, West Africa. For the past year or so I've been having intense intestinal pains, frequent irregular bowel movements, mild blood in stool, and an array of other intestinal and general symptoms. After an inconclusive colonoscopy and negative celiac disease tests, my doctors concluded with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), which is pretty much their way of saying they don't know what is wrong. But what they have failed to do is factor in my medical history. I was wondering if maybe the malaria and/or typhoid or the treatments used could play a role in the development of these issues?
Wed, 22 Jan 2014
User's Response
HI
Thank for asking to HCM
You have asked very good question, malaria is such disease that it interfere with each and every system of body, the intestine is one of them, malaria forming the microscopic ischaemic areas particularly in lumen of descending colon, more over you have history of typhoid fever then this symptoms very likely to aggravate with the pathology of typhoid, but this will come around and does not need any specific treatment, conservative and symptomatic treatment would give good results, take care in diet, have leafy and green vegetable in more quantity, this is not the IBS, take care and have goo time bye.
Thank for asking to HCM
You have asked very good question, malaria is such disease that it interfere with each and every system of body, the intestine is one of them, malaria forming the microscopic ischaemic areas particularly in lumen of descending colon, more over you have history of typhoid fever then this symptoms very likely to aggravate with the pathology of typhoid, but this will come around and does not need any specific treatment, conservative and symptomatic treatment would give good results, take care in diet, have leafy and green vegetable in more quantity, this is not the IBS, take care and have goo time bye.
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Hello,
Thanks for posting on HCM,
Actually, your present doctors seem to have ignored an important factor in your history the fact that you had suffered from typhoid. Typhoid fever in my experience is a "very tricky" diseases to treat. Despite what the literature says, you might attempt to treat typhoid with the indicated antibiotics and still fail or the possibility of re-occurrence is still there. Looking at your symptoms, I do believe that you might still be suffering from a bowel infection which might not necessary be due to salmonellosis. A simple stool exams +/- culture can reveal a lot. Your age rule outs possibilities of a colorectal tumor/cancer, hence we are left with mostly infection to try identifying. Amoeba, salmonella etc are common pathogens found in West Africa that can often cause such symptoms.
A course of antibiotics such as metronidazole and/or ciprofloxacin can remedy this situation definitely. Malaria will not complicate with such bowel symptoms especially with blood in stool.
If I was your present physician I will do a widal tests (to rule out typhoid), stool exams, malaria and complete blood analysis. Colonoscopy can be unnecessary at this stage (given that it is an invasive and uncomfortable procedure).
Hope this helps and wish you the best.
Dr. Nsah
Thanks for posting on HCM,
Actually, your present doctors seem to have ignored an important factor in your history the fact that you had suffered from typhoid. Typhoid fever in my experience is a "very tricky" diseases to treat. Despite what the literature says, you might attempt to treat typhoid with the indicated antibiotics and still fail or the possibility of re-occurrence is still there. Looking at your symptoms, I do believe that you might still be suffering from a bowel infection which might not necessary be due to salmonellosis. A simple stool exams +/- culture can reveal a lot. Your age rule outs possibilities of a colorectal tumor/cancer, hence we are left with mostly infection to try identifying. Amoeba, salmonella etc are common pathogens found in West Africa that can often cause such symptoms.
A course of antibiotics such as metronidazole and/or ciprofloxacin can remedy this situation definitely. Malaria will not complicate with such bowel symptoms especially with blood in stool.
If I was your present physician I will do a widal tests (to rule out typhoid), stool exams, malaria and complete blood analysis. Colonoscopy can be unnecessary at this stage (given that it is an invasive and uncomfortable procedure).
Hope this helps and wish you the best.
Dr. Nsah
I find this answer helpful
1 user finds this helpful
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