Enteric Fever

Risk Factors of Enteric Fever

Enteric fever is caused by a gram-negative bacterium, Salmonella enterica. Another serovar, Salmonella typhi is responsible for causing typhoid fever while Salmonella paratyphi causes paratyphoid fever.

How is the bacteria transmitted?

The enteric fever bacteria are found in contaminated (polluted) places i.e. unhygienic food or impure water. Mostly, it is transmitted through fecal-oral routes. Drinking contaminated water, eating fish from sewage polluted areas, raw fruits and vegetables from the soil fertilized by human excreta and consuming contaminated dairy products. Flies may transfer the infectious agents from one place to another i.e. foods, and by consuming such food will lead you towards the infection.

Pathogenesis of enteric fever

Salmonella typhi enters through the mouth in the form of food, and moves to the intestine where it stays for 1-3 weeks. Then, it goes into the bloodstream through the intestinal wall. It spread to various body organs through the bloodstream. Despite the body’s immune response, Salmonella typhi can live within the body, multiples there and affects the body organs.
The pictorial description of the route S. typhi pathogenesis is shown here.

Can animals spread enteric fever?

No! The bacterium causing enteric fever lives only in humans, so the disease is transmitted through direct human contact.