Salmonella paratyphi can cause paratyphoid fever, an illness similar to typhoid fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Humans are the only source of these bacteria which causes severe illness.
In the U.S., typhoid and paratyphoid fever are not as common as they are in other parts of the world. About 6 million cases of paratyphoid fever are reported worldwide each year, of those only about 100 are in the U.S. The risk is elevated in East and Southeast Asia, Africa, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The highest risk is associated with travel to southern Asia.
Symptoms, which can take between six to 30 days to develop, include gradually increasing fatigue and a fever, headache and a rash on the trunk of the body. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor. Antibiotics can treat symptoms, but there is a vaccination that can be used to prevent them.
