Date updated: June 01, 2009
Content provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Also called: Waterborne Enteric Fevers, Typhoid, Paratyphoid, Salmonella Infections, yellow jack, bilious

Enteric Fevers or Salmonella Infections is the name given to a class of infections caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria. It is one of the most common food borne disease in the U.S. Salmonella bacteria is usually found in raw and uncooked poultry, eggs, beef, unwashed vegetables grown in fields where animal refuse is used as a manure. Symptoms of Salmonella infection or Enteric fevers include "High unremitting fever, diarrhea, colic pains, headache, rigors, etc". If not treated in time the salmonella pathogens reach the blood stream and can become life threatening. Fluoroquinolones are the preferred drugs for treating Enteric fevers. Earlier Cloramphenicol was used but taking into account its property of depressing bone marrow functions, has been since discontinued. Typhoid fever, a more serious disease caused by Salmonella, frequently occurs in developing countries.

Enteric Fevers is also called as Waterborne - Enteric Fevers, Typhoid, Paratyphoid, Salmonella Infections, Yellow -jack and Bilious.