SALMONELLA HEPATITIS (ANALYSIS OF HEPATIC INVOLVEMENT IN 107 PATIENTS WITH TYPHOID FEVER

Abstract

Recognition of typhoid hepatitis is important since it has to be differentiated from other common ailments in our country such as viral, malarial or amoebic hepatitis. Early institution of specific therapy in cases of typhoid hepatitis carries a good prognosis. In our study, 107 patients with positive blood or bone marrow cultures for Salmonella typhi, were evaluated for hepatomegaly and abnormal serum liver enzymes, PT and alkaline phosphatase. The clinical features of typhoid fever with hepatic involvement include: fever 100%, hepatomegaly 52.3%, clinical jaundice 1.8%, rising in ALT 71.1%, AST 24.2%, Alkaline phosphatase 23.3% and abnormal PT 63.5%. Both clinical and biochemical abnormalities were seen in 22.4% of our patients. In patients with fever and jaundice with or without abnormality in liver enzymes, we must keep typhoid hepatitis in mind.