The brothers quickly noticed that I was missing and came to check on me. They found me in bed, shaking from the chills. My temperature was already around 39°C and still rising, so they took me directly to the sisters' dispensary. My first thought was malaria, but fortunately the rapid test was negative. At the same time, my blood pressure was unusually low, so the doctor ordered further tests. Blood was taken and examined in the laboratory next door. About 30 minutes later, we had the answer: typhoid fever.
That diagnosis really surprised me. I had been vaccinated against typhoid, so I had never seriously considered that I could still get it. Of course, vaccination does not provide complete protection, but it was something I had never really thought about before. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and several vitamins and told me to drink plenty of water and get as much rest as possible. I had already lost around four kilograms because of the illness and severe diarrhea. The following two days were definitely the hardest, and there was not much I could do except stay in bed and let my body recover.
Luckily, things improved quite quickly afterwards. After around three days, I already felt much better, and about four days after the diagnosis I was slowly able to return to my normal routine. However, it took around two weeks before I felt completely strong again. Looking back, the experience also showed me another side of life in Madagascar. I had been a little sceptical about the local medical care before, but I was genuinely impressed by how professional, quick and caring everyone was. When you are sick and completely exhausted, you really notice how important it is to have people around you who take care of you.
It reminded me that my time in Madagascar is not only about beautiful landscapes, exciting experiences and new people. There are also moments when you suddenly become the person who needs help. And maybe that is just as much a part of travelling as everything else. For my next trip into the bush, I have learned one very simple lesson: I should probably pay a little more attention to what I eat. :D
