What Causes Slight Elevation Of Body Temperature Despite Completing A Full Course Of Antibiotics?

Posted on Tue, 13 Mar 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 Answered on

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello Doctor. I suffered with typhoid some 10 to 15 days back. Now after taking antibiotics, my temperature has come down and recent blood result showed typhoid negative.... I actually completed my entire course of antibiotics. Since that day of leaving antibiotics and till now, I've been having low grade fever like temperatures around 99 to 99.5 daily for about a week. This is really getting me worried. Could I be having anyother problems like tuberculosis?? When I read online, it showed like that. Please advise.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Not unusual. Possibly not a cause for concern.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

It is not usual for a mild elevation of temperature to be observed in typhoid in spite of the full course of treatment. Unless you have any chest/respiratory symptoms I would not really be worried about tuberculosis. I would need to ask you whether blood counts, CRP, and chest X-ray has been done. If so, please upload the reports.

I would await your response. Possibly it is nothing to worry. I would be able to guide you further after getting your inputs.

Feel free to write back.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (19 hours later)

I've attached my recent reports for your reference doctor.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You can get yourself examined by a doctor.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I do not suppose that it indicates tuberculosis. However, I had asked specifically for CRP and Chest X-ray as they would be helpful in ruling out tuberculosis. In case they have not been done, I do not think that you need to get them done. In case you want to get tuberculosis, you should plan on getting examined by a doctor (other than Dr. XXXX).

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (49 minutes later)

Thank you Doctor. Inspite of taking antibiotics, my wbc is still on the higher side. What could be the reason doctor?. When diagnosed with typhoid, it was around 15000. Now after taking medicines for 10 days, it is still around 11000. And I got tonsils now for which am doing salt water gargle. Is it common to get throat infection after typhoid?. Thank you doctor.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not a cause for concern.

Detailed Answer:

Hi again,

We treat patients for their complaints. We do not treat reports. A count of 11,500 is reasonably acceptable, especially when the neutrophil percentage is not high (55%). I do not regard it as a cause for concern.

Continue to gurgle with lukewarm water and you need not bother about your tonsils.

Possibly the throat infection is independent, irrespective of whether you had an earlier episode of typhoid.

Hope I have answered your query.

Regards,
Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha, General & Family Physician

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad