Compare between Widal Test and Typhoid Strip Test in the Diagnosis of Typhoid Fever using CRP as Evaluation Parameter.

Abstract

Background: Typhoid fever is one of the systemic infection and responsible for high rate of mortality especially in poor hygiene provinces. The aim of this study was to evaluate the methods including C-reactive protein test, Widal test and Typhoid stripe test that used in the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Material and Methods: Rapid direct Widal agglutination test and rapid typhoid stripe (immunochromatography) test were used to detect typhoid infection evaluate more accurate method in the diagnosis of typhoid fever. C-reactive protein detected by rapid slide agglutination test to measure its level in typhoid fever patients. Results: The results of Widal test showed 29 (63%) of 46 sample while the results of typhoid stripe test showed 25 (54.3%) IgM positive and 2 (4.3%) IgG positive from 46 sample. The test of CRP accomplished in positive widal test and positive typhoid strip test samples, the results showed that 6 (20.6%) of 29 were positive and 6 (24%) of 25 were positive in widal and typhoid positive samples respectively. Conclusion: Typhoid stripe test is more accurate and has low cross reactivity when compared with Widal test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Although, C-reactive protein test is non-specific but it is helpful in the characterization of acute inflammation and infection, so it is recommended to use in the detection of typhoid fever.