Clinical features of patients with typhoid fever and drug resistance of the causative isolates in western Iran.

Typhoid fever is an important infectious disease in developing countries, including Iran. In this survey, all patients hospitalized in teaching hospitals of Hamedan during 1995-2005 were investigated. A total of 162 patients with typhoid fever were studied. Of all patients, 106 were male (65.4%). The most prevalent symptoms were fever (93.2%), chills (76.5%), anorexia (72.2%) and headache (71%). Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were present in 43.8% and 13.6%, respectively. Salmonella typhi strains were identified in 144 patients (88.9%) and S. paratyphi A strains were found in 12 (7.4%). In others, S. paratyphi B and C were detected. Serum glutamic oxalo-acetic transaminase values were higher than normal in 77.5% of cases and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase values were higher than normal in 62.5%. The highest sensitivity rate was for ceftizoxime, 91.4% and the lowest rate was for ampicillin, 16.3%.