A 14-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her father because of fever, chills, abdominal pain, and profuse nonbloody diarrhea. Her symptoms began 1 week ago when she had several days of low-grade fever and constipation. Her father describes continuous fever that has risen slowly to reach a high plateau and is relieved only by antipyretics She returned from Southeast Asia 2 weeks ago, where she spent the summer with her grandparents. Her temperature is 39.3°C (102.8°F). Examination shows diffuse abdominal tenderness and mild hepatosplenomegaly. There is a faint salmon-colored maculopapular rash on her trunk and abdomen. Which of the following is the most likely route of transmission of this patient's infection?

Question

A 14-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her father because of fever, chills, abdominal pain, and profuse nonbloody diarrhea. Her symptoms began 1 week ago when she had several days of low-grade fever and constipation.   Her father describes continuous fever that has risen slowly to reach a high plateau and is relieved only by antipyretics She returned from Southeast Asia 2 weeks ago, where she spent the summer with her grandparents. Her temperature is 39.3°C (102.8°F). Examination shows diffuse abdominal tenderness and mild hepatosplenomegaly. There is a faint salmon-colored maculopapular rash on her trunk and abdomen. Which of the following is the most likely route of transmission of this patient's infection?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi or Paratyphi and presents with escalating fever, followed by abdominal pain, formation of rose spots on the chest/abdomen, and hemorrhagic enteritis with possible bowel perforation.  Humans are the only reservoir; transmission is fecal-oral and primarily occurs due to ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces.

A 14-Year-Old Girl Is Brought to the Physician by Her