Rose Spots in Salmonella Infections

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that comprises 2,200 known types. The type responsible for causing rose spots is the Salmonella typhi bacterium. Salmonella typhi is responsible for causing typhoid fever, or enteric fever. According to Merck Manuals, up to 500 typhoid fever cases a year are the result of Salmonella typhi.

Differences

• Your body and not just your G.I. tract are affected.

  Developing typhoid fever is the result of consuming contaminated food and water that contains the Salmonella typhi bacterium. Salmonella typhi is not like non-typhi salmonella. Non-typhi salmonella bacteria such as Salmonella enterocolitis, invade the intestines. Non-typhi salmonella are responsible for causing food poisoning. Salmonella typhi bacteria not only enter the gastrointestinal tract, causing disturbances in the intestines, but they can migrate to other areas in the body. The spleen, liver, other organs and blood can succumb to Salmonella typhi. Death can occur from typhoid fever.

Transmission

• You can be a carrier for the disease.

  Salmonella typhi is a disease found only in humans. People can become carriers for the disease after they recover from typhoid fever. Like those with an active infection, people who have recovered can still shed the disease in their stool. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella typhi is found in the bloodstream and intestinal tract of infected people. The disease is easily spread when infected individuals don't wash their hands.

Symptoms

• Symptoms can last for weeks.

  Symptoms associated with Salmonella typhi include fever, headache, joint pain, sore throat, constipation and weight loss. These symptoms can last for weeks. Around the second week of a Salmonella typhi infection, rose spots begin to appear on the skin. About 30 percent of infected sufferers will develop these spots.

Appearance of Spots

• Rose spots can appear as either flat or raised. They generally appear on the lower abdomen and upper chest of infected individuals. Spots can be as large as 4 mm in diameter. In children, the spots may appear salmon in color, whereas adults may present with darker colored spots (usually red or wine-colored). The spots may take a few days to disappear.

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Your physician will need to perform multiple tests.

  Although a physician can determine if you're suffering from Salmonella typhi by examining the spots on the skin, other tests will be conducted. Usually blood tests, stool tests, urine tests and marrow samples are needed to confirm a diagnosis. Antibiotics such as ampicillin will be prescribed to treat the condition. Your physician may require that you periodically provide stool samples to ensure that you're not shedding the Salmonella typhi bacterium.