Typhoid ileal perforation in children: does clinical diagnosis alone justify laparotomy?

Introduction: Typhoid ileal perforation is one of the most common surgical complications of typhoid fever, with high morbidity and mortality in resource poor tropical areas in Africa and other developing countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical diagnosis of typhoid ileal perforation as justification for laparotomy. Method: A retrospective study from January 2008 to December 2011 in the Paediatric Surgery Division of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. Results: The age group most commonly affected was aged 6-9 years (43.5%); there were 20 (43.5%) males and 26 (56.5%) females. The commonest clinical features were fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, tenderness and distension (52.3%). Thirty one (67.4%) of the patients did not have any diagnostic radiological investigations. Fifteen (32.6%) patients had superficial wound infection, ten (21.7%) died, eleven (23.9%) had no complications. Conclusion: We advocate that under circumstances where urgent diagnostic radiological and laboratory investigations are not available promptly, clinical diagnosis of typhoid ileal perforation, especially signs of peritonitis should justify an emergency laparotomy

Difficultés diagnostiques de la fièvre typhoïde en milieu urbano-rural congolais. Etude menée à Kalemie, province du Tanganyika (République Démocratique du Congo)

Introduction : La fièvre typhoïde est un problème de santé publique qui affecte surtout la population des pays en voie de développement suite aux déficits des mesures d'hygiène. L'objectif de cette étude consistait à déterminer ses modalités diagnostiques.Patients, matériel et méthodes : C'est une étude rétrospective, descriptive et analytique de 2013 à 2014 à l'hôpital général de référence de Kalemie (RD Congo). Elle concernait les cas diagnostiqués et traités de fièvre typhoïde en médecine interne et pédiatrie.Résultats : La fréquence des patients chez qui le diagnostic de la fièvre typhoïde a été évoqué représente 3,3% avec 3,0% en pédiatrie et 4,1% en médecine interne. Les enfants étaient les plus affectés, surtout de sexe féminin. La clinique restait dominée par la fièvre, asthénie physique, anorexie, céphalée et troubles digestifs. Le test de Widal-Félix sur plaque a été demandé dans 82,9% avec 70,1% de positivité alors que 17,1% des patients étaient diagnostiqués sur base des arguments cliniques. Il a été noté une forte association diagnostique (traitée) paludisme-fièvre typhoïde (73,8%).Conclusion : Dans notre série, le diagnostic de la fièvre typhoïde pose de sérieux problèmes liés notamment aux explorations de biologie médicale. Cette dernière devrait contribuer à appuyer la clinique. Les efforts devraient être fournis pour améliorer le diagnostic et prise en charge adéquate des patients, épargnant ainsi au malade des antibiothérapies inutiles

Acute cholecystitis from typhic origin in children

Background: To evaluate the particularities of typhoid cholecystitis in children. Materials and Methods: This was a 5-year prospective study of typhoid cholecystitis in children under 15 years old at Djougou and Sylvanus Olympio teaching hospital. The diagnosis of typhoid cholecystitis was based on clinical and investigation findings; confirmed by operative findings at cholecystectomy. Results: Six children with typhoid acalculous cholecystitis were treated over a five-year period (4 males and 2 females). Their ages ranged from five to 13 years (median 8.8 years). The mean duration of symptoms was six to 21 days. The clinical signs were fever; abdominal pain; which predominated at the right upper abdominal quadrant; and type II Hackett splenomegaly. The diagnosis was confirmed by a positive Widal's test and Salmonella typhi isolation from the culture in all patients; four patients had ultrasound evidence of acalculous cholecystitis. Open cholecystectomy was successful in the six cases. The operative findings were gangrene (3); perforation (2) and empyema (1). All the patients made an uneventful recovery; and have remained symptom free one and three months on follow-up. Conclusion: Typhoid acalculous cholecystitis is a frequent complication in children. Late presentation and diagnosis is associated with complications. Cholecystectomy in association with antibiotic is the treatment of choice

Typhoid Fever in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges of Diagnosis and Management of Infections

Typhoid fever; caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi); is a disease transmitted by the faecal-oral route. It continues to be a public health problem in many developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. School-age children; especially those from resource-poor settings with inadequate water and sanitation systems; are dispropor- tionately affected. It is estimated that a total of 400;000 cases occur annually in Africa; an incidence of 50 per 100;000 persons per year. Lack of effective diagnosis often leads to inappropriate treatment and management of these infections. Additionally; the emergence and spread of S. Typhi strains having multiple resistance to nearly all commonly available drugs in most developing countries has been a major challenge to health care systems; reducing the effective treatment options for the disease; increasing treatment costs and increasing the risk of complications and death. Although not much data from sub-Saharan Africa has been published; it seems clear that typhoid is common in Nigeria; Mali; Ethiopia and Kenya. Given the importance of information on disease incidence for targeting control measures; including improved sanitation and water supply; vaccination and assessing impact; priority should be given to strengthening surveillance systems for typhoid fever

Typhoid Fever in Ethiopia

This review focuses on the reports of salmonellosis by investigators in different parts of Ethiopia; in particular focusing on the levels of typhoid fever. Many of the reports are published in local journals that are not available online. There have been seven studies which diagnosed typhoid fever by laboratory culture and there is no coordinated epidemiological surveillance. All conducted research and reports from different health institutions in Ethiopia indicate that typhoid fever was still a common problem up to the most recent study in 2000 and that the extensive use of first-line drugs has led to the development of multiple drug resistance. In the sites covered by this review; the total number of published cases of typhoid fever dropped over time reflecting the decline in research capacity in the country. Data on the proportion of patients infected by different serovars of Salmonella suggest that the non-Typhi serovars of Salmonella are increasing. The published evidence suggests that typhoid fever is a current public health problem in Ethiopia although population based surveys; based on good microbiological diagnosis; are urgently needed. Only then can the true burden of enteric fever be estimated and the benefit of public health control measures; such as health education; safe water provision; improved food hygienic practices and eventually vaccination; be properly assessed

Le diagnostic et le traitement actuel de la fievre typhoide au Zaire

La fievre typhoide demeure encore aujourd'hui un probleme d'actualite au Zaire; infection specifique purement humaine et due a des bacilles du genre salmonelle; elle est favorisee par des conditions d'hygiene toujours precaire; particulierement par le peril fecal. Le diagnostic positif par hemoculture et coproculture ne peut etre realise que dans des laboratoires de biologie bien equipes. Le traitement specifique par les antibiotiques et les sulfamides pose de serieux problemes du fait de phenomenes de resistance de plus en plus grande de certaines souches de salmonelle