paratyphoid fever
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A bacterial infection of the intestinal tract, caused by Salmonella serotypes Paratyphi A, B, or C. It is a disease similar to, but typically milder than, typhoid fever, characterized by fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Usage
"Paratyphoid fever" is a medical term used to describe a specific enteric illness. It is often discussed in the context of public health, travel medicine, and differential diagnosis.
Examples
- The traveler was diagnosed with paratyphoid fever after returning from a region with poor sanitation.
- Paratyphoid fever and typhoid fever share similar symptoms but are caused by different bacteria.
- Outbreaks of paratyphoid fever are often linked to contaminated food or water.
Advanced Usage
- The term is frequently used in its plural form, "paratyphoid fevers," to refer collectively to the diseases caused by the different serotypes.
- In medical literature, it is often contrasted with "typhoid fever" () when discussing the spectrum of enteric fevers.
Variants and Related Words
- Paratyphoid (adjective/noun): Used as a shorter form, e.g., "paratyphoid infection" or "He has paratyphoid."
- Enteric fever: A broader term that encompasses both typhoid and paratyphoid fevers.
Synonyms
- Enteric fever (specifically when referring to the paratyphoid form)
- Salmonella Paratyphi infection
Notes on Meaning
The core meaning is a specific infectious disease. It does not have idiomatic or figurative uses, as it is a precise clinical term. There are no associated phrasal verbs or idioms.
Noun
- any of a variety of infectious intestinal diseases resembling typhoid fever