Concomitant typhoid infection in urinary Schistosomiasis in South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 503 patients with urinary schistosomiasis (Schistosoma haematobium) and 200 schistosomiasis-negative subjects (controls) from Abia State, Nigeria [date not given] were screened for typhoid fever using faecal culture and serological techniques (Widal test). Of the 503 urinary schistosomiasis patients, 233 (46.32%) were positive for typhoid fever by culture method, while 259 (51.49%) were positive by Widal test. Among the controls, only 10% were positive for typhoid fever. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the diagnostic methods, but significant typhoid prevalence among the schistosomiasis patients (P=0.05). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of concurrent typhoid and urinary schistosomiasis between the males and females, but individuals aged 11-20 (46.7% by culture, and 53.3% by Widal test) and 21-30 years (40.3% by culture and 51.2% by Widal test) showed higher prevalence than the other age groups. It is concluded that concurrent typhoid fever and urinary schistosomiasis are prevalent in Abia State, and that culture techniques and Widal test are still reliable diagnostic methods for typhoid fever.