Fatal complications of acute enteric fevers

J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 1991;66(5-6):545-56.

Abstract

Eighty eight patients presenting with fatal typhoid complications were studied in Abbassia and Embaba fever hospitals during a 4 years period (1987-1991). Criterion of inclusion in the study was either positive blood culture in 70 (80%) cases or postmortem gross appearance of typhoid fever in 18 (20%) cases. Positive blood culture cases included 54 (77%) S. typhi and 16 (23%) S. paratyphi A. Seven (10%) cases were resistant in vitro to chloramphenicol. Postmortem examination performed in 18 (20%) cases revealed typical typhoid ulcers in ileum, jejunum and large intestine. The main clinical picture of 31 toxic, 22 encephalitic or meningeal irritating, 15 gastroenteritic, 9 pneumonic, 8 perforated and 3 haemorrhagic enteric fever cases were discussed. The tetrad of fever, toxic look, bronchitic chest, tumid tympanitic abdomen and splenomegaly was a good sign for suggestion of typhoid diagnosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chloramphenicol / administration & dosage
  • Chloramphenicol / therapeutic use
  • Egypt / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Special
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paratyphoid Fever / drug therapy
  • Paratyphoid Fever / mortality
  • Paratyphoid Fever / physiopathology*
  • Salmonella paratyphi A*
  • Typhoid Fever / drug therapy
  • Typhoid Fever / mortality
  • Typhoid Fever / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Chloramphenicol