TYPHOID BACILLUS Meaning and
Definition
-
Typhoid bacillus refers to a bacterium called Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, which is the causative agent of typhoid fever. This bacterium is classified as a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a facultative anaerobe, which means it can survive and grow both in the presence and absence of oxygen.
Typhoid bacillus is typically transmitted through contaminated food or water that has been contaminated by the feces or urine of infected individuals. Once ingested, the bacteria penetrate the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream, leading to systemic infection. The initial symptoms of typhoid fever may include high fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which can progress to more severe symptoms such as intestinal hemorrhage and perforation if left untreated.
Identification of typhoid bacillus is primarily done through laboratory tests, including culturing the bacteria from blood, stool, or other bodily fluids. Antibiotic therapy is commonly used to treat typhoid fever, and vaccination is also available for prevention.
It is important to note that the term "typhoid bacillus" specifically refers to the bacterium S. enterica serovar Typhi, as there exist other related species of Salmonella that can cause similar but different diseases, such as Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A, B, and C, which are responsible for paratyphoid fever.
-
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for TYPHOID BACILLUS
- ryphoid bacillus
- fyphoid bacillus
- gyphoid bacillus
- yyphoid bacillus
- 6yphoid bacillus
- 5yphoid bacillus
- ttphoid bacillus
- tgphoid bacillus
- thphoid bacillus
- tuphoid bacillus
- t7phoid bacillus
- t6phoid bacillus
- tyohoid bacillus
- tylhoid bacillus
- ty-hoid bacillus
- ty0hoid bacillus
- typgoid bacillus
- typboid bacillus
- typnoid bacillus
Etymology of TYPHOID BACILLUS
The word "typhoid bacillus" comes from the combination of two key terms:
1. Typhoid: The term "typhoid" originates from the Greek word "typhos", which means "stupor" or "smoke". This term was used to describe a condition associated with extreme mental confusion and lethargy. The term "typhoid" was first employed in English in the early 19th century to refer to a specific type of infectious disease characterized by high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and a state of delirium. It is caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi.
2. Bacillus: The term "bacillus" has its roots in the Latin word "bacillum", which means "club" or "rod". It refers to a type of bacteria that appears as a rod-shaped cell under microscopic examination.
