English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi, is endemic in the Indian sub-continent including Bangladesh, South-east and Far-east Asia, Africa and South Central America. The disease can occur in all age group with highest incidence among children. A simple, reliable, rapid and early diagnostic test has been a long felt need of the clinicians. Blood culture is regarded as the gold standard for diagnosis. However, this requires laboratory equipment and technical training that are beyond the means of most primary health care facilities in the developing countries. To fulfill the purpose the present study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital for the period from Oct 2012 to Mar 2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 300 blood samples, collected aseptically from patients clinically diagnosed of Typhoid fever, were evaluated by blood culture, Tube and Slide Widal test RESULTS: This study included 300 cases having clinical suspicion of typhoid fever. Subjects were investigated by blood culture, Tube & Slide Widal agglutination tests. Among them, 42(14%) were subsequently confirmed by blood culture for S. Typhi, 123(41%) and 150(50%) cases were positive as having significant titre of Slide and Tube Widal agglutination tests respectively. Thus, in comparison to the gold standard test i:e blood culture, Tube and Slide Widal test were better and consumed less time. Comparing Slide and Tube Widal test, Tube is better. CONCLUSION: Tube& Slide Widal agglutination test is found to be better and could be applied as a good alternate in resource poor nation. Further, it is simple to perform, reliable when compared to blood culture test, and rapid, with results being available in 18 hrs when compared to 48 hours for blood culture.