Enteric fever

Enteric fever is a medical term encompassing two types of salmonellosis, which, specifically, are typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever. It is an acute systemic infection which induces fevers and is potentially lethal. It is diagnosed by growing a bacterial sample on culture medium. Typhoid fever is caused by the Salmonella enterica bacteria, serotype typhi, while paratyphoid fever is caused by the Salmonella enterica bacteria, serotype paratyphi A, B, or C. These Salmonella enterica bacteria serovars that cause enteric fever only have human hosts, as opposed to other types of salmonellosis-causing Salmonella bacteria which often have animal reservoirs.