Paratyphoid fever
| Paratyphoid fever | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Rose colored spots on the chest of a person with typhoid fever which are similar to those of paratyphoid | |
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| ICD-10 | A01.1-A01.4 |
| ICD-9-CM | 002 |
| DiseasesDB | 33218 |
| Patient UK | Paratyphoid fever |
| MeSH | D010284 |
Paratyphoid fever, also known simply as paratyphoid, is a bacterial infection caused by one of the three types of Salmonella enterica. Symptoms usually begin six to thirty days after exposure and are the same as those of typhoid fever. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several days. Weakness, loss of appetite, and headaches also commonly occur. Some people develop a skin rash with rose colored spots. Without treatment symptoms may last weeks or months. Other people may carry the bacteria without being affected; however, are still able to spread the disease to others. Both typhoid and paratyphoid are of similar severity. Paratyphoid fever is a type of enteric fever along with typhoid fever.
Paratyphoid is caused by the bacteria Salmonella enterica of the serotype Paratyphi A, Paratyphi B or Paratyphi C growing in the intestines and blood. They are usually spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. They may occur when a person who prepares food is infected. Risk factors include poor sanitation as is found among poor crowded populations. Occasionally they may be transmitted by sex. Humans are the only animal infected. Diagnosis may be based on symptoms and confirmed by either culturing the bacteria or detecting the bacteria's DNA in the blood, stool, or bone marrow. Culturing the bacteria can be difficult. Bone marrow testing is the most accurate. Symptoms are similar to that of many other infectious diseases.Typhus is an unrelated disease.
While there is no vaccine specifically for paratyphoid, the typhoid vaccine may provide some benefit. Prevention includes drinking clean water, better sanitation, and better handwashing. Treatment of the disease is with antibiotics such as azithromycin. Resistance to a number of other previously effective antibiotics is common.
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