Introduction:

Infections are the most frequent etiology of prolonged febrile illness (PFI). Although enteric fevers are a possible cause, their prevalence has significantly diminished in Uruguay, due to improved socio-sanitary conditions.

Objective:

To communicate the case of an adolescent with a currently exceptional etiology of PFI.

Clinical case: 14 years old, healthy, suburban area. Two days prior to admission the patient has pain in upper hemi abdomen. Adds mild holocranial headache and occasional vomiting. 5 days prior to admission axilary temperature of 40°C, one daily peak, without other symptoms. Normal lower digestive and urinary transit. Physical examination: lucid, good general aspect, pain at deep palpation in epigastrium. No peritoneal irritation. Rest is normal. Laboratory: leukocytes 5200 mm3, C-reactive protein 71.4mg/dL, blood culture shows no growth. Abdominal sonogram, thoracic X-ray and echocardiogram are normal. Negative serology for Epstein Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus and Bartonella henselae. Normal urine, urine culture with no growth. Fever persists, adds evanescent macropapular exanthema in on the trunk, without other symptoms. On the 7th day in hospital a new blood culture shows Salmonella Typhi sensitive to ampicillin, which he receives for 14 days. Good evolution.

Discussion:

Typhoid fever is an acute, life-threatening, infectious disease. Socioeconomic conditions are determinant in its transmission. Blood culture sensitivity is greater during the first week of the disease, that is why it must occasionally be repeated. Its unspecific clinical manifestations and low incidence make this etiology not be usually suspected in our surroundings. It is therefore important to increase our suspicion and to consider it amongst differential diagnosis in PFI.

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