Showing posts with label loss of appetite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label loss of appetite. Show all posts

Thursday, February 7, 2013

DON'T SAY I DID NOT MAKE YOU AWARE

The Indiana State Department of Health, the Tippecanoe County Health Department and Purdue University are investigating a positive case of typhoid fever in a food handler at Purdue University.

Anyone who ate at the Boiler Bistro, John Purdue Room, or the coffee shop, Lavazza, at Marriott Hall on the Purdue campus from January 23-25 2013 may be at risk. Health officials advise these individuals to see a healthcare provider right away if they start to experience symptoms such as a high fever (103° to 104° F), weakness, stomach pains, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, or loss of appetite. In some cases, a rash of flat, rose-colored spots may appear. Symptoms usually begin within 8-14 days after exposure, but could potentially appear for up to 30 days.
 
Health care providers are encouraged to ask those who present with these symptoms about potential exposure and consider testing for typhoid fever.  Stool and blood are appropriate specimens for testing.  Suspect cases should be reported immediately to your local health department.

People are at risk of typhoid fever if they eat food or drink beverages that have been handled by someone who infected with Salmonella Typhi or if sewage contaminated with the bacteria gets into the water used for drinking or washing food. Typhoid fever is more common in areas where hand washing is less frequent and water can be contaminated with sewage.

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. In the United States, approximately 400 cases of typhoid fever occur each year with 75 percent of these acquired while traveling internationally. Typhoid fever is still common in the developing world, where it affects about 21.5 million persons each year. The case being investigated recently traveled internationally and this is where the infection was acquired.
 
For questions, please contact Sarah Slette, ISDH Enteric Epidemiologist, at 317-234-2808 or sslette@isdh.in.gov.

William C. VanNess II, MD
State Health Commissioner