Salmonella Hepatitis: An Uncommon Complication of a Common Disease

• Main Authors: Ritu Karoli, Jalees Fatima, Ashok Chandra, Gagandeep Singh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2012-01-01
• Series: Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
• Subjects: Enteric fever; Salmonella hepatitis; Salmonella typhi; typhoid fever; typhoid hepatitis
• Online Access: http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2012;volume=1;issue=2;spage=160;epage=162;aulast=Karoli

Typhoid fever is a very common infectious disease of tropics, associated with high morbidity and mortality. Typhoid fever is often associated with hepatomegaly and mildly deranged liver functions; a clinical picture of acute hepatitis is a rare complication. We report a young patient who presented with fever and jaundice and was found to have acute hepatitis secondary to typhoid fever. Recognition of Salmonella hepatitis is of clinical importance as it can mimic acute viral hepatitis. Early institution of specific therapy can improve the prognosis in these patients.Typhoid fever is a very common infectious disease of tropics, associated with high morbidity and mortality. Typhoid fever is often associated with hepatomegaly and mildly deranged liver functions; a clinical picture of acute hepatitis is a rare complication. We report a young patient who presented with fever and jaundice and was found to have acute hepatitis secondary to typhoid fever. Recognition of Salmonella hepatitis is of clinical importance as it can mimic acute viral hepatitis. Early institution of specific therapy can improve the prognosis in these patients.