Treatment of typhoid fever in pregnancy

Ethical and medical problems arise with typhoid infections in pregnant women. In spite of preventive care, this disease is still present and dangerous. Thirty such cases have been studied in our Clinic where treatment was carried out with four different drug regimens: chloramphenicol, ampicillin, these two drugs in association, and cotrimoxazole. On the whole the therapy was proven efficient: the infection was resolved and pregnancy continued. Only three cases of abortion and two malformed babies were observed. Aspects of reciprocal interference between infection and pregnancy are discussed and the choice of the most effective therapy is evaluated.