Paratyphoid hepatitis: an emerging clinical entity

Infections of the Liver

The portal vein carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver and in so doing carries microbes as well. The liver may therefore be involved in infections with a myriad number of microbial organisms. While some of these infections most commonly occur in the immunocompromised host, others affect the immune competence. Hepatic infections may be primary in nature or secondary, as part of systemic or contagious disease. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the various infections of the liver in the pediatric patient.

Salmonella paratyphi A enteric fever mimicking viral meningitis

Enteric fevers are caused by invasive strains of Salmonella. Classic enteric fever is caused by S. typhi and usually less severe enteric fevers are caused by S. paratyphi A, B, or C. We present a case of S. paratyphi A enteric fever aseptic meningitis. Headache was so prominent in the case presented that a lumbar puncture was performed to rule out meningitis. Rose spots were not apparent in this dark-skinned patient. Our patient did not have increased serum transaminases and did not have leukopenia, which are common findings in enteric fever. The absence of these findings and the relative bradycardia may be explained by the antimicrobial therapy the patient received before admission. After ruling out malaria, clinicians should suspect enteric fever in patients recently returning from endemic areas, in patients presenting with acute fevers without localizing signs.