ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS FOR ENTERIC PERFORATION IN CASES OF TYPHOID FEVER

Abstract

Introduction: Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi and characterized by insidious onset of sustained fever, marked headache, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhoea.Objectives: The basic aim of the study is to find the risk factors for enteric perforation in cases oftyphoid fever. Material and methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar during September 2022 to June 2023. Data was collected from 120 patients from both genders. Data collection for this retrospective cohort study was conducted by systematically extracting relevant information from electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with typhoid fever. The process involved identifying cases using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes specifically designated for typhoid fever. Results: The study consisted of 120 patients with a mean age of 32.4 years (range: 8 - 72 years). Gender distribution was nearly equal, with 59 (49.2%) male and 61 (50.8%) female patients. The duration of illness before admission varied, with 42 (35%) patients presenting within 7 days of symptom onset, while 78 (65%) had a longer duration of illness, with a maximum duration of 21 days.Conclusion: It is concluded that our study has successfully identified several significant risk factors associated with the development of enteric perforation in cases of typhoid fever. These findings underscore the critical importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment to mitigate the risk of this severe complication.