DEFINITION

Also known as enteric fever, an infection that causes diarrhea and a rash -- most commonly due to a type of bacteria called Salmonella typhi (S. typhi). A bacterial infection of the intestinal tract and occasionally the bloodstream.

 The

disease rarely occurs in developed countries. It is most commonly seen in countries with poor sanitary conditions and contaminated water supplies.

Historical landmarks in Typhoid

In 1880s, the typhoid bacillus was first observed by Eberth in spleen sections and mesenteric lymph nodes from a patient who died from typhoid. Robert Koch confirmed a related finding by Gaffky and succeeded in cultivating the bacterium in 1881. But due to the lack of differential characters, separation of the typhoid bacillus from other enteric bacteria was uncertain.

Causative Agent: Salmonella typhi, Typhoid bacillus

a

bacteria found in infected animals and transmitted to persons in contaminated food or fluids. Boiling water and thoroughly cooking food can kill the microorganism.

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infection can also be spread asymptomatic carriers. These are people who have the bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract, but do not have symptoms.

 Incubation

period: usually between 7-14 days Period of communicability: for as long as bacteria are in the stools

 Mode

of transmission: by food and water contaminated by stools and urine of patients or carriers. The vehicles are the 5 Fs: Feces, Food, Flies, Fomites, Fingers

Epidemiology: Incidence
World: 17 million cases per year U.S.: 400 cases per year (70% in travelers) PHILIPPINES (Nov 2006) 478 in Agusan del Sur. (May 2004) 292 in Bacolod City

Mary Mallon
(September 23, 1869 November 11, 1938)

Qurrataini I. Balocang MED IA

Mary Mallon
(September 23, 1869 November 11, 1938)

Also known as Typhoid Mary was the first person in the United States to be identified as a healthy carrier of typhoid fever.

She seemed a healthy woman when a health inspector knocked on her door in 1907, yet she was the cause of several typhoid outbreaks.

Qurrataini I. Balocang MED IA

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Mary Mallon
(September 23, 1869 November 11, 1938) Since Mary was the first "healthy carrier" of typhoid fever in the United States, she did not understand how someone not sick could spread disease -- so she tried to fight back. She was forcibly quarantined twice by public health authorities and died in quarantine. Over the course of her career as a cook, she infected 47 people, three of whom died from the disease. It was also possible that she was born with the disease, as her mother had typhoid fever during her pregnancy.

Qurrataini I. Balocang MED IA

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Mary Mallon
(September 23, 1869 November 11, 1938) MaryMallon died on November 11, 1938 at the age of 69 due to pneumonia (not typhoid), six years after a stroke had left her paralyzed. However, an autopsy found evidence of live typhoid bacteria in her gallbladder. Her body was cremated with burial in Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx.

Qurrataini I. Balocang MED IA

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