fever is an infection caused by Salmonella typhi. This bacterium
is usually ingested in contaminated water or food contaminated with human
feces. Unlike other species of Salmonella, Salmonella typhi, is
only found in humans. Once Salmonella typhi is in the intestine
it can work its way into the blood stream and infect the liver, spleen,
and lymph nodes. The first and most common symptom of typhoid fever
is fever. During the first week of the disease a person with typhoid fever
may also have a loss of appetite, weakness, general aches and pains, lack
of energy, dull headache, and tiredness. The fever continues to go higher
and higher. If a person is not treated or cannot eliminate the infection
on their own they go into delirium and can die.
Typhoid fever is rather rare today because many precautions are taken to avoid human to human spread of this disease. Proper disposal of human waste and the requirement of food handlers to wash their hands after going to the bathroom has lowered the incidence of infection to less than one case of typhoid fever per 100,000 people in the United States. In some developing countries the incidence of this disease is higher and the infection is more common during the summer months.
Take Care and Think Microbiologically!
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