Leukocyte counts of typhoid fever patients in Kano, Nigeria.

Abstract

The leukocyte counts of 73 patients with proven cases of typhoid fever were compared with that of 80 healthy individuals and 68 non-typhoid febrile patients in order to determine the diagnostic value of the leucocyte counts for typhoid fever. The mean total white blood count (WBC) of 5.9 ± 4.3 10 9 /l; differential neutrophil count of 65 ± 13.3% and lymphocyte counts of 34.17 ± 13% recorded in patients with typhoid infections were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) from the corresponding counts obtained in healthy subjects. However, only the mean differential neutrophil and lymphocyte counts of these patients were found to have significant differences (p < 0.05) from those of the patients with other febrile illnesses. The mean total WBC showed no statistical difference (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that typhoid fever in adult in Kano is characterized by normal leukocyte count and relative neutrophilia.