Question

Typhoid is also called as enteric fever. Give reason.

Hint:

To diagnose typhoid fever, clinical labs perform blood, stool, or bone marrow cultures. They also use the Widal test, which detects antibodies against the Salmonella O (somatic) and H (flagellar) antigens in the patient's serum.

Answer 1

Step 1: Etymological Origin of the Term:
The term “enteric” is derived from the Greek word “enteron”, which translates directly to “intestine”. Therefore, “enteric fever” literally means “fever of the intestines”.

Step 2: Pathophysiological Mechanism of Typhoid Fever:
Typhoid fever is a systemic, acute infection caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), which targets the gastrointestinal tract as its primary site of entry and infection:

• Ingestion and Colonization: The bacteria enter the body through food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. They survive stomach acid and pass into the small intestine.
• Targeting Peyer's Patches: In the terminal ileum (small intestine), the bacteria attach to and invade lymphoid follicles known as Peyer's patches.
• Inflammation and Ulceration: The bacterial colonization causes severe inflammation, swelling, and ulceration of the intestinal mucosal lining.
• Systemic Spread: From Peyer's patches, the bacteria enter the lymphatic system and the bloodstream, leading to bacteremia and a sustained, high step-ladder fever.

Step 3: Conclusion:
Since the small intestine is the primary site of infection, tissue damage, and potential clinical complications (such as intestinal bleeding or perforation), the disease is classified as enteric fever.