Comparison of Widal Test and Stool Culture Technique in Diagnosing Typhoid Fever in Okpokwu Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria

Patients comprising of five hundred and sixty-nine (569) males and nine hundred and ten (910) females who attended primary health care units from the Northern Edumoga, Southern Edumoga (Ugbokolo) and Okpoga/Ichama areas were screened for Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi over a period of nine months, using slide agglutination and stool culture techniques. The organisms isolated from infected patients were S. typhi, S. paratyphi A, S. paratyphi B and S. paratyphi C. S. typhi was the most predominant among all the species and S. paratyphi was most occurring among the paratyphi. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r = 518; P < 0.05) shows that significant serum titres were positively related to positive stool. For example, 671 patients (71.9%) had both significant serum titres (≥ 1: 160) and positive stool cultures. These findings point to the need for patients being advised to seek medical attention at the onset of any ailment and stool culture technique should be used in addition to the common Widal test used in the area for diagnosis. Key word: Typhoid fever, Salmonella, Widal test, stool culture, Okpokwu LGA.