TYPHOID FEVER WITH JAUNDICE

A CLINICAL STUDY IN ABBOTTABAD

Abstract

Typhoid fever is a systemic infection which is caused by Samonella enterica
serotype typhi. It is a multi-system disorder involving many organs including liver. Liver
involvement could be in the form of jaundice, rise in liver enzymes or hepatomegaly. It can
present as acute hepatitis in rare cases, called typhoid hepatitis. Objectives: This study was
carried out to study the association of typhoid fever in patients with jaundice. To determine
the frequency of typhoid fever among patients presenting with jaundice. Design: Descriptive
cross sectional study Setting: at Gastroenterology Unit, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad,
Period: March 2011 to December 2011. Methods: Total 115 patients were included in the
study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Typhidot IgM test was performed to confirm
the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Results: The mean age of patients was 28.5 ± 10.14 years,
with 54.8% male gender predominating the overall sample. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1.
Typhoid fever was found in 22 (19.1%) out of 115 patients with jaundice and there were 68.2%
were males and 31.8% were females. Conclusions: Typhoid fever is not rare to present as
jaundice in our part of the world where typhoid fever is endemic. Therefore, all those patients
who have fever, jaundice, abnormal liver function tests or hepatomegaly must be screened for
typhoid fever especially in areas where typhoid fever is endemic.