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Widal Test


Why is it in the news?

  • The Widal test is complicating the assessment of India’s typhoid burden because of its limitations and inaccuracies, leading to increased costs in diagnosing typhoid fever.
  • Further, inaccurate diagnoses may lead to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, contributing to antimicrobial resistance.

 

Widal Test

 About:

·    A serological test used for diagnosing typhoid fever.

·    Point-of-care test requiring no special skills or infrastructure.

Purpose:

·    Detects antibodies against Salmonella Typhi in blood, indicating infection.

·    Helps diagnose current or recent infection and assess previous exposure.

Limitations:

·    Single test accuracy is low; multiple tests over days are required.

·    Cross-reactivity with other infections or vaccines can cause false positives.

·    Previous antibiotic use can suppress antibody production, leading to false negatives.

 

About Typhoid

·       Infectious disease caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi, primarily affecting the intestinal tract.

·       Symptoms include high fever, weakness, stomach pains, headache, loss of appetite, and a rash of flat, rose-coloured spots.

·       It spread through contaminated food or water or close contact with an infected person.

·       Diagnosis: Blood, stool, or urine tests detect S. Typhi bacteria; early detection is crucial.

·       Prevention: Involves vaccination, safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Travelers to endemic areas should consider vaccination.

 

 


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