Q.1: For two years, every typhoid test I take comes back positive. I have seen many doctors and taken many courses of antibiotics -yet the test never clears. What is going on?
A.1: The culprit is almost certainly the Widal test, one of the most overused and misunderstood tests in East Africa. This test detects antibodies that your immune system produced during a past typhoid infection. The critical problem is that these antibodies remain in your blood for months to years after full recovery. Every new test simply detects the same old immune memory, not a new infection. You were most likely being treated for a disease you no longer had. Blood culture is the right test which grows the live bacteria from your blood and the treatment. See a qualified doctor, not a standalone lab.
Tip1: A positive Widal test does not always mean that you have typhoid now. Insist on a Blood culture for a true diagnosis
Q.2: Is it safe for me to take painkillers like ibuprofen or diclofenac frequently?
A.2: No. Regular intake of painkillers can damage the stomach lining, affect your kidneys and raise blood pressure. It should be taken with food, for the shortest duration necessary and must be avoided by people with ulcers, kidney disease or heart conditions.
Tip.2: “Over the counter” does not mean “safe for daily use”
