Serum electrolyte levels in patients with established typhoid fever attending general hospital Minna

Abstract

Typhoid fever is often associated with diarrhea and vomiting which can lead to depletion of serum electrolytes. This study was conducted to evaluate the gender- and age-based variations in depletion of serum electrolytes associated with typhoid fever patients attending General Hospital Minna. Serum levels of sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate ions were determined in sixty patients comprising of fifteen adult males, fifteen adult females, fifteen male children and fifteen female children with established typhoid fever. The study observed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in serum electrolyte levels between children and adult typhoid fever patients irrespective of their gender. Generally, Sodium, Chloride, Potassium and Bicarbonate ions were observed to be 50%, 51%, 36% and 11.67% below the normal levels respectively in all the patients sampled. Correlation analysis showed a weak positive correlation between the cations and anions determined. The result of this study implies that electrolyte abnormalities exist in patients with typhoid fever suggesting that appropriate electrolytes administration particularly sodium and chloride might be required for typhoid fever patients .