Typhoid Fever: The Origin of the Name & Its Symptoms

The term "typhoid fever" comes from the Greek word "typhos," which means "smoke" or "mist." The name was given to the disease because of the characteristic rash that appears on the skin of people who are infected. The rash resembles smoke or mist rising from the body, hence the name typhoid fever. Additionally, during the earlier stages of the disease, a high fever develops in sufferers' bodies and hence called a fever with typhoid (bacteria). Thus, eventually, it led to a name typhoid fever to the disease itself.