Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome in typhoid fever

Among 48 patients with a typhoid infection 6 (12.5%) developed the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome. Neither glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency nor therapy with chloramphenicol could be incriminated as the causal factor. Evidence presented here suggests that the mechanism is localized intravascular coagulation.The presence of leucocytosis in typhoid fever suggests a complication and should alert one to the possibility of the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome. Furthermore, in our area typhoid should be suspected as a cause in any patient presenting with acute renal failure.