Malaria-Typhoid Fever Diagnostic Confusion in Nigeria and Its Impact on Treatment Delays and Mortality Among Pregnant Women and Children

Abstract

In Nigeria, typhoid fever and malaria continue to be the leading causes of feverish sick ness, particularly in children and pregnant women. Accurate diagnosis is difficult in loca tions with limited resources since both diseases are endemic and feature overlapping symptoms, such as high fever, malaise, and gastrointestinal distress. Frequent misdiagno sis is a result of this diagnostic overlap as well as systemic healthcare flaws such the Widal test's dependence, the varied sensitivity of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and in adequate laboratory equipment. Traditional beliefs and self-medication are examples of community-level influences that also contribute. These difficulties lead to improper ad ministration of antibiotics, delays in treatment, and higher mortality, especially among vulnerable populations. The epidemiology, clinical overlap, and diagnostic difficulties of typhoid fever and malaria in Nigeria are summarized in this article. It draws attention to the negative effects of incorrect diagnosis, such as treatment failure, antibiotic resistance, and poor maternal-child health outcomes. The report urges system-wide changes, public education, better healthcare worker training, and enhanced diagnostics such multiplex as says and more precise RDTs. Investing in water and sanitation infrastructure, regulating unlicensed healthcare practitioners, and improving surveillance systems are some of the main proposals. Reducing diagnostic ambiguity, enhancing clinical results, and safeguard ing high-risk groups all depend on filling these gaps.