An outbreak of El Tor cholera in Kavre district, Nepal.

Outbreak of cholera still remains major public health problem in most of the developing countries including Nepal. A prospective study was carried out at Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Teaching Hospital, Kavrepalanchok during 1st May 2004 to 31st October 2004. A total of 148 stool samples from patients with acute diarrhea were collected and further investigated for cholera. The study was conducted to establish the causes of the outbreak of acute diarrheal disease, antimicrobial profiles of the stool isolates and parasitic co-infection in cholera cases. The samples were subjected to standard recommended microbial procedures and confirmation of the isolates was done by seroagglutination using V.cholerae polyvalent O1 and 0139 antisera and monovalent Ogawa and Inaba antisera. Out of the 148 stool samples, 46 cases (31%) were found to be positive for V.cholerae serogroup O1, biotype ElTor, serotype Ogawa. Both sexes were equally affected. Young age group of less than 30 years were mostly affected. Brahmin was the most affected ethnic group. The isolates were sensitive to all the antibiotics tested except co-trimoxazole. Among the laboratory confirmed cholera cases 30% exhibited co-infection with other parasites among which Giardia lamblia and Ascaris lumbricoides were the most common.

Typhoid fever in Dhulikhel hospital, Nepal.

One hundred and twelve cases of typhoid fever presenting in outpatient and emergency department of Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal were studied. In this study, it was found that 71% typhoid fever cases were less than 30 years of age group with male to female ratio of 3:1. Fever over 5 days followed by headache and chills were major presenting symptoms. Widal test and blood culture for Salmonella typhi were positive in 59% and 49% cases respectively. Two third of our study population had total leucocyte count of normal range. The fever clearance time was significantly better with ofloxacin compared to ciprofloxacin (p < 0.05) and ceftriaxone compared to chloramphenicol (p < 0.05). The release from treatment was significantly shorter with ceftriaxone compared to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol (p < 0.01). Ceftriaxone was found to be 100% sensitive to salmonella typhi. Amoxicillin was only 52.1% sensitive to Salmonella typhi. Early diagnosis and institution of appropriate antibiotic therapy is of paramount importance in the management of typhoid patients.