Case report: a rare presentation of typhoid fever due to eating over-ripened pineapple

Abstract

Background and Importance: Typhoid fever is an acute infection caused by Salmonella typhi, especially when it is waterborne or foodborne. Overripe pineapple causes typhoid fever because overripe pineapple is a desirable host for the survival of S. typhi. The importance of typhoid fever as a public health burden is reduced by early detection and appropriate antibiotic treatment. Case Presentation: A 26-year-old black African male health care worker was admitted to the clinic on 21 July 2022, with a significant chief complaint of headache, loss of appetite, and watery diarrhea. The admitted patient presented with a 2-day history of hyperthermia, headache, loss of appetite, and watery diarrhea, as well as back pain, joint weakness, and insomnia. The H antigen titer was positive, which was 1 : 189 greater than the normal range and showed the past history of S. typhi infection. The O antigen titer value detected was a false negative result because it was done before the 7-day onset of fever. On admission, ciprofloxacillin 500 mg was given orally twice a day for 7 days to treat typhoid by inhibiting the deoxyribonucleic acid replication of S. typhi by preventing S. typhi deoxyribonucleic acid topoisomerase and deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase. Clinical Discussion: Typhoid fever pathogenesis is based on pathogenic factors, infecting species, and host immunity. By using the agglutination biochemical test, the Widal test was able to identify the patient’s bloodstream as carrying the S. typhi bacteria that causes typhoid fever. Conclusion: Due to contaminated food or unsafe drinking water sources, typhoid fever is associated with travel to developing nations.