Burden of typhoid and paratyphoid fever in a densely populated urban community, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract Background We conducted blood culture surveillance to estimate the incidence of typhoid and paratyphoid fever among urban slum residents in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods Between January 7, 2003 and January 6, 2004, participants were visited weekly to detect febrile illnesses. Blood cultures were obtained at the clinic from patients with fever (≥38°C). Salmonella isolates were assayed for antimicrobial susceptibility. Results Forty Salmonella Typhi and eight Salmonella Paratyphi A were isolated from 961 blood cultures. The incidence of typhoid fever was 2.0 episodes/1000 person-years, with a higher incidence in children aged p =0.02) and S. Paratyphi (10±2 days, p =0.04) infections. Conclusions Typhoid fever is more common than paratyphoid fever in the urban Bangladeshi slum; children