Which sign is classically observed in the febrile phase of typhoid fever?

• A. Tachycardia
• B. Hypertension
• C. Hyperglycemia
• D. Relative bradycardia

Answer: (D)

Relative bradycardia, or the Faget sign, is the hallmark sign seen during the febrile phase of typhoid fever. The idea is pulse rate that does not rise in proportion to the fever. In typhoid, you can see a high fever with a heart rate that’s slower than what you’d expect for that temperature—cardiac response is blunted or dissociated from the fever magnitude.

This contrast helps distinguish typhoid from other febrile illnesses where fever is typically accompanied by marked tachycardia. The other options don’t fit as well: hypertension isn’t a characteristic feature of the febrile phase in typhoid, and hyperglycemia isn’t a defining sign there. Remember that while fever usually drives faster pulse, typhoid’s febrile illness often shows this relatively lower heart rate for the degree of fever.