Current Clinical Profile of Enteric Fever in a Teaching Hospital

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the current of clinical presentations, complications and
prognosis of enteric fever cases in Bangladeshi population and also to assess the antimicrobial
sensitivity of the causative organisms. A total of 65 patients, with either fever of any duration
with positive blood culture for Salmonella, of fever of more than a week with strong clinical
evidence of enteric fever along with single Widal titre TO >160 of AO >160 or BO> 160, were
selected from indoor medical wards of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital from August 2000 to
May 2001. Blood culture with sensitivity pattern, Widal tests and relevant investigations were
done in all patients. Majority (87.70%) of the patients presented on the second or third week of
their illness. Other clinical profiles of the patients were comparable to different studies done in
our country and in abroad. Common complications were pneumonia, meningitis and typhoid
psychosis. Isolated salmonellae from blood culture were 100% sensitive to Ciprofloxacin and
Pefloxacin. Two out of sixty five patients (3.07%) expired due to complications.

doi: 10.3329/taj.v15i2.3914

TAJ December 2002; Vol.15(2): 81-83