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We have a friend that just came back from a business trip from Italy. He got home very ill. Was taken to the doctors off but the doctor was not available so a PA saw him. He was diagnosed with typhoid fever. He was given Bactrim and sent hom. His bowels had not functioned for over ten days and he was running a 104 temperature. He refused to go to the hospital and went home. That has been a week ago and now his wife has the same red spots, headache and extreme fatigue. He has 5 kids and 2 of them are now experiencing headaches and bodyaches. This family if going out amoung people and the kids have been exposed but continue to go around other who have comprimised immune systems. Why would the doctor not make sure this family if confined to their home. The man was traveling for his company and doesnt want thecompany to know he has typhoid fever. He thinks he can go to work in a few days even though he is still ill. What does a person do about a situation like this that they know of. I want to remain anonymous because these people are our friends but are not using good judgement. There doctor has not followed up with this family at all. Should we be concerned? Thank you.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Hello,

I know how alarming this is, but it is really of no cause for concern.

Because the germ is passed in the feces of infected people, only people with active diarrhea who are unable to control their bowel habits (infants, certain handicapped individuals) should be isolated. Most infected people may return to work or school when they have recovered, provided that they carefully wash hands after toilet visits. Children in daycare, health care workers, and persons in other sensitive settings must obtain the approval of the local or state health department before returning to their routine activities. Food handlers may not return to work until three consecutive negative stool cultures are confirmed.

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection of the intestinal tract and occasionally the bloodstream. It is an uncommon disease in the US and Europe, found mostly in underdeveloped countries. Most of the cases are acquired during foreign travel to underdeveloped countries. The germ that causes typhoid is a unique human strain of salmonella called Salmonella typhi. Outbreaks are rare.

Symptoms may be mild or severe and may include fever, headache, constipation or diarrhea, rose-colored spots on the trunk and an enlarged spleen and liver. Relapses are common. Fatalities are less than one percent with antibiotic treatment.

Symptoms generally appear one to three weeks after exposure. The carrier stage varies from a number of days to years. Only about three percent of cases go on to become lifelong carriers of the germ and this tends to occur more often in adults than in children.

The PA is required to notify the local health dept. They may or may not decide to take action.

As he has been treated with antibiotics, he will will recover.

http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DBMD/diseaseinfo/typhoidfever_g.htm#Where%20in%20the%20world%20do%20you%20get%20typhoid%20fever

Edited by Two_Westies on July 2 2006 at 3:08 PM

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