title: Significance and value of the Widal test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever in an endemic area.
abstract: The diagnostic value of the Widal test was assessed in an endemic area. The test was done on 300 normal individuals, 297 non-typhoidal fevers and 275 bacteriologically proven cases of typhoid. Of 300 normal individuals, 2% had an H agglutinin titre of 1/160 and 5% had an O agglutinin titre of 1/160. On the basis of these criteria a significant H and/or O agglutinin titre of 1/320 or more was observed in 93-97% of typhoid cases and in only 3% of patients with non-typhoidal fever. Of the sera from typhoid cases which gave a significant Widal reaction, the majority (79.9%) showed increases in both H and O agglutinins and 51 of 234 (21.8%) of these sera were collected in the first week of illness. The significance and implications of these findings are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000373:Agglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D012485:Salmonella typhi / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000373:Agglutinins