THE WIDAL TEST IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF TYPHOID-FEVER IN THE TRANSVAAL

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (24) , 851-854
Abstract
The results of the Widal test in the northern and eastern Transvaal were analyzed in relation to bacteriologically confirmed cases of typhoid fever, patients suspected of having the disease, febrile patients without typhoid fever and healthy individuals. Titers of 1:200 or greater for either H or O agglutinins were recorded for 75.2% of patients with bacteriologically proven typhoid fever, 4.6% of healthy subjects residing in an endemic area and 7.5% of patients presenting with non-typhoid fevers. Age, sex and region were found to affect the percentage of positive tests recorded. Despite these failings, the Widal test was found to be of value in the diagnosis of typhoid fever. The concept of a diagnostic titer was considered unreliable, but considered in conjunction with the clinical picture, O or H agglutinin titers of 1:200 or more may be regarded as strong presumptive evidence of typhoid fever.

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