EC Paediatrics

Research Article Volume 12 Issue 5 - 2023

Clinical Patterns of Typhoid Fever in Children in Zimbabwe

IC Chikanza1,2*, TA Mazodze3, K Nathoo4 and CML Olweny5

1International Arthritis and Hypermobility Centre @ Harley Street Clinic, London WIG 7AF, UK
2Department of Medicine, Catholic University, Harare, Zimbabwe
3Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
4Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Harare Teaching Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe
5Uganda Cancer Institute, Upper Mulago Hill Road Kampala, Uganda

*Corresponding Author: IC Chikanza, International Arthritis and Hypermobility Centre @ Harley Street Clinic, London WIG 7AF, UK and Department of Medicine, Catholic University, Harare, Zimbabwe. E-mail: i.c.chikanza@btinternet.com
Received: February 20, 2023; Published: April 25, 2023




The clinical, serological, hematological and biochemical features of bacteriologically proven typhoid fever were assessed prospectively in 218 children in Zimbabwe over a 3 year period. The most predictive clinical features most useful in diagnosing pediatric typhoid fever, were fever with relative bradycardia, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Though there was a high incidence of complications, treatment with chloramphenicol was associated with a good outcome. Hepatic involvement occurred in 28% (61), 3.7% (8) had myocarditis, 14.7% (32) had renal complications, 8% (6) developed gastrointestinal complications whilst neuropsychiatric manifestations occurred in 55.5% (121) of cases. For the Widal test, H titres were a more sensitive indicator of infection, being found in 57,3% of culture positive cases compared with 33.5% for O. The relapse rate was 1.8% whilst the mortality rate was 0.45%.

Keywords: Typhoid Fever (TF); Widal Test (WT); Children

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IC Chikanza., et al. Clinical Patterns of Typhoid Fever in Children in Zimbabwe. EC Paediatrics 12.5 (2023):23-27.

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