Related Experiment Videos
The white cell count in typhoid fever.
M S Abdool Gaffar1, Y K Seedat, Y M Coovadia
1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal/King Edward Hospital, Durban, South Africa.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Contrary to popular belief, leucopenia (low white blood cell count) and lymphocytosis (high lymphocyte count) are uncommon in typhoid fever. Most patients exhibited lymphopenia (low lymphocyte count), and high white cell counts correlated with increased complication rates.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Typhoid fever is a significant global health concern, often associated with specific hematological changes.
- Previous literature suggests leucopenia, neutropenia, and relative lymphocytosis are common in typhoid fever patients.
- Accurate diagnostic markers are crucial for timely and effective patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the actual prevalence of leucopenia, neutropenia, and lymphocytosis in adult patients diagnosed with typhoid fever.
- To analyze the relationship between white blood cell counts and the occurrence of complications in typhoid fever.
- To challenge and clarify common misconceptions regarding hematological findings in typhoid fever.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 191 adult patients admitted with typhoid fever.
- Examination of total and differential leucocyte counts performed upon admission.
- Statistical analysis to determine the prevalence of specific white blood cell abnormalities and their correlation with complications.
Main Results:
- Leucopenia was observed in only 24.6% of the typhoid fever patients.
- Neutropenia was present in 25% of patients; absolute lymphocytosis was not observed in any patient.
- A significant finding was true lymphopenia in 75.8% of patients.
- While complications occurred across all white blood cell counts, their prevalence significantly increased to 70% in patients with white blood cell counts above 8 x 10(9)/l.
Conclusions:
- The findings challenge the traditional belief that leucopenia and relative lymphocytosis are common in typhoid fever.
- True lymphopenia is a more prevalent finding than previously thought.
- Elevated white blood cell counts (above 8 x 10(9)/l) are associated with a higher risk of complications in typhoid fever patients, warranting closer monitoring.