What Is Salmonella Paratyphi?
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that encompasses many different strains, each with their own characteristics. One such strain, Salmonella Paratyphi, is able to cause a disease known as paratyphoid fever, which spreads from the intestines into the blood. Paratyphoid fever, however, is rarely fatal and generally only causes death due to intestinal complications. It can be treated via proper nutrition, hydration and the administration of such antibiotics as azithromycin.
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Identification
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Salmonella Paratyphi is a strain of the Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella bacteria are aerobic (they need oxygen to live) and rod shaped bacteria. They are also gram negative, which means that they lack the extra cell wall that gram positive bacteria have. There are over 200 strains of the Salmonella bacteria, three of which come under the classification of Salmonella Paratyphi.
Infection
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Salmopnella Paratyphi can cause a disease known as paratyphoid fever. This is a disease that has some similarity to typhoid fever, which is caused by Salmonella Typhi. However, paratyphoid fever is generally milder than typhoid fever.
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Symptoms
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The typical symptoms of paratyphoid fever is a moderate fever with headache, malaise, abdominal pain and a lack of appetite. Most patients also experience a condition known as hepatosplenomegaly, in which the liver and spleen both become enlarged. Approximately 30 percent of all Caucasians with paratyphoid fever will also experience small rose-colored spots on their abdomen. Other symptoms include constipation or diarrhea.
Transmission From Food
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Salmonella Paratyphi is generally transmitted through feces. As a result, it can commonly be contracted by eating food that has been contaminated, especially in areas that have poor sanitation. It can commonly be contracted in countries with poor sewage disposal, as a result of washing or preparing food with contaminated water.
Transmission Between People
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Salmonella Paratyphi can also be transmitted between individuals as a result of poor hygiene. Failing to wash one's hands after using the restroom, for example, can cause the hands to be contaminated, which can lead to the contamination of another person's hands. Because the bacteria starts the infection through the intestines, once something is consumed via the hands of the newly contaminated person, they may become infected.
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