Health Tips - Diagnosis

Saturday, February 6, 2010

In many fevers a diagnosis beyond all reasonable doubt may be made on clinical grounds, e.g. measles, chickenpox, mumps, health rheumatic fever. In others there may be doubt about the identity of the causal organism and demonstration of its presence is essential for complete diagnosis. Other considerations such as the tracing of a carrier may make it desirable to ascertain the precise strain of organism present.

Many of the points mentioned above are illustrated in the accompanying chart. The most common variety in Britain is due to Salmonella paratyphoid B. The course in paratyphoid fever tends to be less prolonged and less severe than that of typhoid fever but the onset is often more abrupt e.g. with acute enteritis. The rash is usually more abundant and the complications are similar but are less frequent.