Paratyphoid Fever

Paratyphoid fever is an acute infectious disease caused by three Salmonella species: paratyphi A, B, and C. The clinical manifestations of paratyphoid A and B are similar to typhoid fever but milder with a shorter course; paratyphoid C has more atypical manifestations and may present as mild typhoid, acute gastroenteritis, or sepsis.

Common Symptoms

Positive Widal test; abdominal pain; garrison physician; diarrhea

Causes and Pathogenesis

There are three pathogens of paratyphoid fever: (1) the pathogen of paratyphoid A is Salmonella paratyphi A; (2) the pathogen of paratyphoid B is Salmonella paratyphi B; (3) the pathogen of paratyphoid C is Salmonella paratyphi C. These three bacilli belong to groups A, B, and C of the genus Salmonella, respectively, and can all be classified by phage typing. All paratyphoid bacilli possess O and H antigens; Salmonella paratyphi C additionally carries Vi antigen. Under natural conditions, paratyphoid bacilli generally only infect humans. When the body's immunity is low and resistance declines, infection occurs through the environment or contact with patients, producing paratyphoid symptoms.

Treatment

Drug therapy, supportive therapy

Preventive Measures

Prevention of this disease should adopt comprehensive measures focused on cutting off transmission routes, adapted to local conditions. 1. Control the source of infection: Isolate and treat patients early; the isolation period should last until clinical symptoms resolve and body temperature returns to normal for 15 days; stool cultures may also be performed once every 5 to 7 days, and isolation can be lifted after two consecutive negatives. The urine, feces, bedpans, eating utensils, clothing, and daily items of patients must be properly disinfected. Management of chronic carriers should be strictly enforced; workers in food, childcare, and water supply industries should be regularly examined to detect carriers early. Chronic carriers should be transferred from such positions, treated, and placed under regular supervision. Close contacts should be under medical observation for 23 days; suspected paratyphoid patients with fever should be isolated and treated early. 2. Cut off transmission routes: Carry out the "three managements and one elimination" (managing water, food, and feces, and eliminating flies), wash hands before meals and after using the toilet, and avoid drinking raw water and eating unclean food. 3. Protect susceptible individuals: Paratyphoid vaccination provides some protection to susceptible populations; susceptible individuals in epidemic areas may receive the typhoid and paratyphoid A, B triple vaccine. The Ty21a oral attenuated live vaccine was approved for use in the United States in 1989, with fewer adverse reactions and some protective effect.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Infectious Diseases department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.