A note on incidence of typhoid fever in diverse age groups in Kolkata, India.

*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Division of Microbiology, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (Indian Council of Medical Research), P-33, C.I.T. Road, SchemeXM, Beliaghata, Kolkata 700 010, India. Tel : +91-332350-0448/5533/4478 (Ext.117), Fax: +91-33-2350-5066, E-mail: [email protected] Typhoid fever occurs both in epidemic and endemic forms and remains a public health problem in developing countries (1). Since 1990, the epidemics of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi have been reported from different parts of India (2,3), including Kolkata (4). The present retrospective and prospective study was undertaken to ascertain which particular age group is more affected and as such should be the target age group for an immunization program. From 1990 to 2002, a total of 1,736 blood samples were collected from patients with a clinical diagnosis of enteric fever admitted to either the Dr. B.C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children or Beliaghata General Hospital, Kolkata. The samples were processed for S. enterica serovar Typhi Laboratory and Epidemiology Communications