Paratyphoid fever is caused by Salmonella paratyphi. It can be transmitted from animals or animal products to humans or from person to person.
Reservoir
Human and, occasionally, domestic animals.
Incubation period
1 -2 weeks (it is often shorten in children)
Signs and Symptoms
- High fever
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Abdominal pain - may resemble appendicitis
- Rose spots on trunk
Diagnosis
Culture from blood, stool, urine or bone marrow.
Treatment
Antibiotics prescribed by medical doctor (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalosporins, cefotaxime or cefixime or chloramphenicol).
Control and Prevention
- Control requires one to know of carriers, control of the occupation activities, safe water supply and effective sewage systems.
- Educate public on importance of hand washing and foodhandling.
- Dispose of human faeces in a sanitary manner.
- Protect, purify, chlorinate public water supplies.
- Control flies by screening, spraying with insecticides.