title: Typhoid fever: case report and literature review.
abstract: Typhoid fever remains a major health problem worldwide, in contrast to Chile, where this disease is an isolated finding. Clinical presentation is varied, mainly presenting with fever, malaise, abdominal discomfort, and nonspecific symptoms often confused with other causes of febrile syndrome. We report a six-year-old, male patient presenting with fever of two weeks associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, malaise, hepatomegaly and elevated liver enzymes. Differential diagnoses were considered and a Widal reaction and two blood cultures were requested; both came back positive, confirming the diagnosis of typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi. Prior to diagnosis confirmation, empirical treatment was initiated with ceftriaxone and metronidazole, with partial response; then drug therapy was adjusted according to ciprofloxacin susceptibility testing with a favorable clinical response. We discuss diagnostic methods and treatment of enteric fever with special emphasis on typhoid fever.
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Juan de Dios, Curicó, Región del Maule, Chile. Address: Pasaje Los Vilos 7, Población La Marquesa, Curicó, Región del Maule, Chile. Email: natx.ox.18@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Natalia Carolina
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Sanhueza Palma
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Juan de Dios, Curicó, Región del Maule, Chile.
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farías Molina
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Juan de Dios, Curicó, Región del Maule, Chile.
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calzadilla Riveras
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Juan de Dios, Curicó, Región del Maule, Chile.
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hermoso
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012485:Salmonella typhi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin
keywords: diagnosis; epidemiology; treatment; typhoid fever