Diagnostic Pattern of the Typhoid Fever among the Children in a Tertiary Level Hospital

Abstract

Typhoid fever is a significant cause of mortality mostly in the developing countries. It requires rapid and accurate diagnosis followed by proper treatment for the improved outcome. That is why an effective, proper and specific diagnostic process is required that will facilitate, specify and help to determine the treatment of the disease. The main objective of this study was to compare the different diagnostic processes and to find out their effectiveness. This study was performed at the general wards of the ICH (Institute of Child Health) and SSF (Shishu Shastho Foundation). A total of 112 typhoid and 112 non typhoid patients were taken under this study and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. From the study, it was found that among the patients 59% were male and 41 % were female, indicating that male patients were more prone to the disease than female patients. Majority of the patients belonged to the age group <3 years (40%), followed by 3-<6 years (30%), 6-<9 years (22%) and 9-12 years (8%). Among 112 typhoid patients, 94 have performed Widal test, of which 52% were positive in where 48% were found negative. Again 64 patients have done Blood culture test, where 67% were found positive and other 33% patients were negative. An interesting finding that 51 % patients were positive both in Widal test and Blood culture test where 49% were negative in both the cases. However these negative cases were considered as typhoid fever based on their symptoms. In comparison with the non typhoid patients, there was significant difference in ESR (0.00) where the mean value of typhoid patients (42.0955±20.4507) was higher than non typhoid patients (28.4054±21.56317). Another significant difference was observed in Platelet count, typhoid patients had higher Mean value of (262.8703±135.7310) than the non typhoid patients (346.3874±132.2486). This study also showed that significant difference in neutrophil count where typhoid patients had higher mean value (58.2162±15.7002) than non typhoid patients. But insignificant difference was found in RBC count (0.348). The result of the study showed that the Widal test and Blood culture test are the most significant parameters for the diagnosis of the typhoid fever. So the diagnostic tests should be confirmed to ensure proper diagnosis of typhoid fever which will ultimately lead to specific and precise treatment.