Case-control study to identify risk factors for paediatric endemic typhoid fever in Santiago, Chile.

Typhoid fever is an important endemic health problem in Santiago, Chile. Its incidence has more than doubled in recent years, during which access to potable water and sewage disposal in the home became almost universal in the city. A matched case-control study was carried out to identify risk factors and vehicles of transmission of paediatric typhoid fever; 81 children in the 3-14-years age group with typhoid fever were compared with controls, matched with respect to age, sex, and neighbourhood.

Typhoid fever in Santiago, Chile: a study of household contacts of pediatric patients.

We obtained clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data (including three stool cultures) from 155 (96%) of 161 household contacts of 24 patients less than 16 years old with culture-confirmed typhoid fever; these 24 patients represented approximately 40% of such patients seen in three hospitals in Santiago during a 12-week period. A chronic typhoid carrier was identified in only one household, with concurrent or secondary cases seen in two other households. When index cases were matched with household members nearest in age, no specific risk factors for illness could be identified.