Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Culture Methods to Determine the Limit of Detection and Survival in Transport Media of Campylobacter Jejuni in Human Fecal Specimens
08:23

Culture Methods to Determine the Limit of Detection and Survival in Transport Media of Campylobacter Jejuni in Human Fecal Specimens

Published on: March 10, 2020

Typhoid fever, ciprofloxacin and growth in young children

C P Doherty1, S K Saha, W A Cutting

  • 1Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UK. cd1c@clinmed.gla.ac.uk

Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Ciprofloxacin use in children with typhoid fever did not adversely affect growth or joint symptoms. This study provides evidence for the safety of ciprofloxacin in pediatric typhoid treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi, is a major public health concern in Southern Asia.
  • Emergence of multi-resistant Salmonella typhi strains necessitates careful antibiotic selection.
  • Increasing use of ciprofloxacin in children for typhoid fever treatment, despite discouragement, warrants safety evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of ciprofloxacin use on growth parameters (ponderal, linear, knemometric) in children with typhoid fever.
  • To evaluate the effect of ciprofloxacin on the prevalence of joint symptoms (arthritis/arthralgia) in pediatric typhoid patients.
  • To determine the safety profile of ciprofloxacin in the context of pediatric typhoid fever management.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 75 children under 6 years old diagnosed with typhoid fever.
  • Children received standard treatment, with some administered ciprofloxacin.
  • Growth parameters and joint symptomology were monitored over a 6-month follow-up period.

Main Results:

  • No significant adverse effects on ponderal, linear, or knemometric growth were associated with ciprofloxacin use.
  • Ciprofloxacin use did not increase the incidence of arthritis or arthralgia.
  • Catch-up growth in weight and height was observed within 30 days to 6 months post-diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • Ciprofloxacin is frequently used in treating pediatric typhoid fever in the studied region.
  • Current evidence suggests ciprofloxacin is safe regarding growth and joint symptomology in children with typhoid fever.
  • The findings support the judicious use of ciprofloxacin in pediatric typhoid management where indicated.

More Related Videos

Metabolic Profiling to Determine Bactericidal or Bacteriostatic Effects of New Natural Products using Isothermal Microcalorimetry07:28

Metabolic Profiling to Determine Bactericidal or Bacteriostatic Effects of New Natural Products using Isothermal Microcalorimetry

Published on: October 29, 2020

Quadruple-Checkerboard: A Modification of the Three-Dimensional Checkerboard for Studying Drug Combinations11:15

Quadruple-Checkerboard: A Modification of the Three-Dimensional Checkerboard for Studying Drug Combinations

Published on: July 24, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents01:18

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
Urine Studies II: Urine Culture and Sensitivity Test01:26

Urine Studies II: Urine Culture and Sensitivity Test

A urine culture and sensitivity test is a diagnostic procedure used to identify urinary tract bacterial infections and determine the most effective antibiotics for treatment. This test is generally preferred when a patient shows manifestations of a urinary tract infection, such as frequent or painful urination, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, or lower abdominal pain.Purpose of the TestThe primary goals of a urine culture and sensitivity test are to:Determine the specific bacteria causing the...
Reservoir of Infection01:30

Reservoir of Infection

Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis01:28

Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis

Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...