Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 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

Risk factors for typhoid fever in children in squatter settlements of Karachi: a nested case-control study

Fahad Javaid Siddiqui1, Syed Rizwan Haider, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

  • 1Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.

Journal of Infection and Public Health
|August 13, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Typhoid fever in children is linked to household crowding and poor hygiene. Improving handwashing practices and awareness can significantly reduce the disease burden in developing nations.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Typhoid fever is a significant public health issue in developing countries, particularly affecting children in urban squatter settlements with poor sanitation.
  • Children under 16 years old in these environments are disproportionately affected by the disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify independent risk factors associated with typhoid fever in children residing in squatter settlements of Karachi.
  • To provide data for targeted public health interventions to reduce typhoid fever incidence.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted involving 88 typhoid fever patients and 165 age-matched neighborhood controls.
  • Data were collected between June 1999 and December 2001.
  • Multivariate conditional binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Key independent risk factors identified include: increased household size (OR=1.9), lack of soap near handwashing facilities (OR=2.6), non-use of medicated soap (OR=11.2), and lack of awareness of contact with a typhoid fever case (OR=3.7).
  • These factors highlight the role of socioeconomic conditions and hygiene practices in disease transmission.

Conclusions:

  • Household crowding, inadequate hygiene practices, and limited awareness are significant risk factors for typhoid fever in children.
  • Health education focusing on handwashing is crucial for mitigating the impact of typhoid fever in resource-limited settings.

More Related Videos

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children10:57

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

Related Concept Videos

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...
Amebiasis01:28

Amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
Cholera01:25

Cholera

Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...
Giardiasis01:12

Giardiasis

Giardiasis is a globally prevalent intestinal infection caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (also known as G. lamblia or G. intestinalis). This flagellated protozoan is the most frequently identified intestinal parasite in the United States and worldwide. Transmission primarily occurs via the fecal-oral route, with infection arising from ingestion of water or food contaminated with cysts. Individuals in low-resource settings, international travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, daycare...