Abstract

*Dr. Wajahat Maqbool, Dr. Shahroz Khan and Dr. Raiha Ashfaq

ABSTRACT

Objective: To find out frequency of various complications in children admitted with Enteric Fever at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was prospective cross sectional study, carried out in the Pediatric Medicine department of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi from Dec 2015 to March 2018. Children of both genders with age range of 6 months to 16 years diagnosed as enteric fever on the basis of clinical features and positive Typhidot, or blood culture were included in the study. All 180 patients were scrutinized for all possible complications. Where ever required and feasible appropriate and relevant investigations were done to document complications. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 20. Results: Mean age of children was 7.2±3.38, majority 94 (52.2%) were 5-10 years old. Out of 180 patients, complications were noted in 58 (32.2%). Neurological complications 30.7% encompassed maximum complications followed by hepatobiliary 24.61%, abdominal 16.92% hematological 9.23%, bone and joints 7.69%, respiratory system 6.1% and cardiovascular system 4.41%. Mortality rate was 1.6%. Thrombocytopenia and leucopenia were significantly associated with complications with p value of 0.002 and 0.003 respectively. Conclusion: Enteric fever is causing our children to suffer by its numerous perplexing and fatal complications. The most vulnerable age for enteric fever and its complication is 5-10 years. To combat these issues large scale vaccination remains promising option at least in most susceptible age group. Even in 21st century heavy burden of Salmonella infections is still hovering around developing world and poses a continuous threat for health care providers. Salmonella species subspecies enterica and serotype typhi can cause serious and prolonged illness referred to as enteric fever or typhoid fever.[1] According to most recent review about 27 million people suffer from enteric fever each year with about 200,000 deaths almost exclusively in developing world.[2] Unfortunately Pakistan is one of those five countries which have been declared endemic for Enteric fever with high burden.[3] The incidence of typhoid is found to be 451.7/100,000 persons-year among 2-15 years old in Pakistan.[2] Multidrug resistance, along with poor hygiene and sanitary conditions both on personal and community level are the main hindrances in controlling of this infectious disease.[4]