Typhoid Diagnosis

Typhoid fever is diagnosed by testing for antibodies produced against the bacteria Salmonella typhi, which causes the condition. In most countries where the disease is widespread, treatment is started based on symptoms while these tests are processed by the laboratory to confirm the presence of disease.

An outline for the diagnosis of typhoid fever is given below:

  • Assessment to check for typhoid fever symptoms.
  • Any history of similar infection within the patient's social circle or family is obtained as are the details of any recent travel to countries where typhoid is prevalent. Endemic areas include countries in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia, and South America.
  • Blood, stool and urine samples are collected so they can be checked under the microscope for the presence of Salmonella typhi. However, the bacteria may not always be detected in the early stages of disease and a series of tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
  • Testing the bone marrow is a more reliable method for diagnosing typhoid. However, obtaining a bone marrow sample is painful and is therefore avoided if possible.
  • Blood culture is another common method of diagnosis. Blood drawn from the patient is placed on a culture media, which allows any bacteria present to grow and be detected under a microscope. For this test, around 10 to 15 ml of blood is drawn from adults and around 2 to 4 ml is drawn from toddlers and children, as children have a higher concentration of bacteria in their blood.
  • A stool culture may also provide results by allowing the bacteria to grow in a culture media.
  • Serum samples can be tested for antibodies against typhoid. For this test, 1 to 3 ml of blood is collected in a tube that does not contain an anticoagulant so that the clear serum portion of the blood can be separated off and tested for antibody titre.

The Widal test involves testing for agglutinating antibody levels against O antigens which usually appear 6 to 8 days after disease onset and H antigens which appear on days 10 to 12. However, the use of more recent tests such as the IDL Tubex test and the Typhidot test allow for a more rapid detection of the antibodies, leading to a faster diagnosis.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2023

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2023, June 17). Typhoid Diagnosis. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 31, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Typhoid-Diagnosis.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "Typhoid Diagnosis". News-Medical. 31 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Typhoid-Diagnosis.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "Typhoid Diagnosis". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Typhoid-Diagnosis.aspx. (accessed October 31, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2023. Typhoid Diagnosis. News-Medical, viewed 31 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Typhoid-Diagnosis.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.