Malaria or typhoid? How to tell the difference

In Nigeria, malaria and typhoid are two of the most common reasons people feel unwell, and their early symptoms overlap so much that they are frequently mistaken for each other. Treating the wrong one wastes money and delays recovery, so a proper test is always worth it.

What they have in common

Both can cause fever, headache, tiredness, body aches and loss of appetite. Because of this, many people self-medicate for malaria when the real problem is typhoid, or the other way round.

Clues that point to malaria

Malaria fever often comes in cycles with chills and heavy sweating, and tends to develop quickly over a day or two. It is caused by a parasite spread by mosquito bites and is confirmed with a simple blood test (an RDT or microscopy).

Clues that point to typhoid

Typhoid usually builds up more gradually over several days, with a steadily rising fever, abdominal discomfort and sometimes constipation or diarrhoea. It is caused by bacteria from contaminated food or water. Note that the widely used Widal test is unreliable on its own; a doctor may recommend a blood culture for a firmer answer.

The bottom line

Don't guess. A quick lab test tells you which one you actually have so you get the right treatment the first time. At Clinigram the clinic, lab and pharmacy are in one building, so you can be tested and treated in a single visit.