Spectrum of complications in blood culture positive enteric fever in children aged 1-15 years: A 10-year-experience from a tertiary care centre in Eastern India

Abstract

Background: Enteric fever is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar typhi and Paratyphi A, B and C. Blood culture is the gold standard for diagnosis, but is not always feasible due to logistical issues. This may delay definite diagnosis and treatment resulting in increased complications.Objectives: To document the spectrum of complications involving different organ systems in blood-culture positive enteric cases  Method: This was a single centre retrospective observational study conducted in the Institute of Child Health (ICH), Kolkata, India. The study period was from January 2013 to December 2022. Children aged 6 months to 15 years, admitted in ICH, with a history of fever of any duration, whose blood culture revealed Salmonella species were included. Clinical symptoms, complications and the outcome of treatment were noted. Data were statistically analysed using SPSS software.Results: Around one third of the total study population presented with complications. Age group of 5-10 years was the most vulnerable for the infection and its complications. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement, hepato-biliary involvement and gastrointestinal (GI) involvement were the common complications.Conclusions: Enteric fever involved a broad spectrum of complications involving the CNS, hepato-biliary system and the GI system.