Frequency of Typhoid Fever in Healthy People of Doda Region of Jammu and Kashmir, India: First Report from Area

Typhoid fever (or enteric fever) remains a deadly disease in developing countries, particularly in India. Although, the paediatric population is mainly affected by this disease, however, the disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in adult populations as well. Typhoid fever is an orally transmitted infectious disease caused by the Gram negative bacterium, Salmonella typhi. The aim of the study was to examine pathogens that cause typhoid fever among healthy people in the Doda region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Blood was collected from 150 healthy people for testing. A total of 85 (56.7%) healthy people showed positive results that they had typhoid fever based on a clinical examination and serological test, while 65 (43.3%) showed negative results of the total of 150 patients. The Widal test was found to be suitable test for enteric fever. Typhoid fever remains common in the Doda region, even among those with a high level of education. The study conducted during March 2020 to May 2020, is the first of its kind in the Doda region of Jammu and Kashmir.