Typhoid fever (salmonella typhi infection from contaminated food or water)

Description A bacterial infecti...

Description

A bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. The disease rarely occurs in developed countries. It is most commonly seen in countries with poor sanitary conditions and contaminated water supplies. Vaccines and being careful with food and water consumption while traveling can help prevent the infection. There are three stages to the infection. Each stage gets progressively more serious.

Symptoms

Severe headache, diarrhea but sometimes constipation, fever, chills, loss of appetite, malaise, fleeting rash (rose spots) appearing on the lower chest and abdomen during the second week of the fever, abdominal pain and tenderness, weakness, fatigue. Salmonella colitis causes bloody stools.

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Tests to establish the diagnosis may include: blood antibody or antigen testing, blood cultures, stool or other body fluid cultures, and tissue cultures.

Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Electrocardiogram (EKG), Lipase, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Troponin, Urinalysis (UA), X-ray

Other Specific Tests: Antibody testing (fluoescent test), antigen testing (ELISA), blood cultures, body fluid cultures, tissue cultures

Specialists:
Infectious Disease Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine

Treatment

Specific therapy depends on the severity of infection but may include: intravenous fluids and electrolytes, antibiotics, and hospital admission. Antibiotics must be chosen carefully because of growing resistance to antibiotics by the bacteria.