What is "paratyphoid fever"

n. (context pathology English) Any of a variety of acute infectious intestinal diseases resembling typhoid fever but less severe, caused by eating food contaminated with certain bacteria of the genus ''Salmonella''.

n. any of a variety of infectious intestinal diseases resembling typhoid fever [syn: paratyphoid]

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 maybe 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 disease is with antibiotics such as azithromycin. Resistance to a number of other previously effective antibiotics is common.

Paratyphoid affects about 6 million people a year. It is most common in parts of Asia and rare in the developed world. Most cases are due to Paratyphi A rather than Paratyphi B or C. In 2013 paratyphoid fever resulted in about 54,000 deaths down from 63,000 deaths in 1990. The risk of death is between 10% and 15% without treatment while with treatment it may be less than one percent.