Enteric Fever in Primary Care

Abstract

Enteric fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi and paratyphi. It is endemic in many parts of Africa and South Asia where there is poor access to safe portable water and below par food quality assurance. It is important to ensure prompt recognition, diagnosis and management of symptoms to forestall complications. Due to the rising global burden, significant effort has to be made to improve primary care services like vaccination, antimicrobial stewardship and encouragement of hygiene measures. Hence, it is imperative to be aware of its current burden and options available in primary care for its prevention and treatment.