In Nigeria today, typhoid fever is one of the most over diagnosed diseases. The majority of “typhoid” cases being treated, according to Dr. Yakub of Well-Life Hospital in Abuja, are actually the consequence of inaccurate testing and presumptions rather than actual typhoid.
This article examines the reasons for the high prevalence of typhoid misdiagnosis and the risks it poses to common people.
Why Everyone Believes They Have Typhoid
Common symptoms include headache, fever, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. They may manifest in:
- malaria
- viral infections
- foodborne illness
- Dehydration
- digestive issues
However, a lot of people quickly diagnose these symptoms as “typhoid,” frequently without first seeing a physician.
The Issue with Walk-In Testing and Self-Diagnosis
Many patients request a typhoid test at a laboratory without first consulting a doctor.
However, the test results are sometimes misconstrued in the absence of a competent medical evaluation.
According to Dr. Yakub, a proper diagnosis necessitates three steps:
- Taking a history and talking to a doctor about your symptoms
- Physical examination: looking for indicators on your body
- Only when the first two stages indicate typhoid should laboratory testing be conducted.
- Ignoring the first two steps results in incorrect conclusions.
The Reasons Behind the Widal Test’s Massive Misdiagnosis
In Nigeria, one of the most popular examinations is the Widal test.
However, it is no longer trustworthy in the medical field.
Why?
