CR0406 Rare typhoid fever case in oral medicine

A rare case of typhoid fever, with diagnosis and treatment unsubstantiated, complicated with a space infection, presents to a dental school for emergency care. A 14-year-old African girl presented to the Emergency Care Clinic, Department of Oral Medicine, Penn Dental Medicine, with a right facial swelling, pain, and fever of 7 days' duration. The etiology was determined to be related to abscessed maxillary right first premolar. During the medical work-up, her mother said that the patient recently arrived in the United States but had a vague history of a diagnosis of typhoid fever 1 month earlier while in Africa. Because of the uncertainty of her treatment and current infectious level and the elevated contagion risk while in the school environment, and subsequent to discussions with the emergency department physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on our campus, we chose to send the patient to that hospital to be evaluated and treated in isolation. Laboratory tests were performed, malaria smear was performed, and blood culture was sent. Results for complete blood cell count and liver function tests were within the reference ranges. The rapid malaria result was negative. Blood results were preliminary no growth. Incision and drainage was performed. Pending medical status and risk of contagion being determined, in consultation with an infectious disease specialist, the patient would be able to return to Penn Dental Medicine for further treatment. Salmonella enterica su...
Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Tags: Online Only Article Source Type: research