TYPHIDOT TEST AND BLOOD CULTURE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF TYPHOID FEVER

Abstract

T yphoid fever is endemic in Pakistan and its clinical diagnosis is difficult due to a diverse presentation of the
patients. Early and accurate diagnosis is of utmost importance to save the patient from dreadful complications. This
prospective study was conducted to observe the sensitivity and specificity of typhidot test for the diagnosis of typhoid
fever. Adult patients presenting with acute febrile illness were interviewed in all the Medical Units of Allied Hospital,
Faisalabad. Thirty patients were selected who proved to have salmonella infection on blood culture. There was a male
to female ratio of 3:1 and maximum number of patients were between 21-30 years of age. Many patients presented
with unusual symptoms mimicing other diseases. For comparative study another group of 30 patients was selected
who did not have salmonella infection on blood culture and widal test was also negative in this group. Typhidot test
was performed on all these patients of both groups. Among 30 cases of proved salmonella infection, typhidot test was
positive in 26 cases giving it a sensitivity of 87 percent. In the other group who were having no typhoid illness,
typhidot test was positive in only two out of thirty patients giving it a specificity of 39%. So it is concluded that
typhidot test is a much sensitive and specific test. It may be helpful for the serological diagnosis of typhoid fever even
in remote areas of our country.