Changes in Serum Electrolyte Levels in Typhoid Fever Patients Attending Minna General Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Typhoid fever on the serum levels of electrolytes in patients attending Minna General Hospital, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were obtained from sixty patients with established typhoid fever attending General Hospital Minna, Nigeria. Serum sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate levels were determined in the samples using Spectrophotometric method. The case studies included 15 adult males and 15 adult females; 15 male and 15 female children of junior secondary school age (9 – 14 years). Widal test was carried out to ascertain the presence of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Results: The mean ± standard deviations of serum Na+, K+, Cl-, and HCO3- in the sixty patients were 116.11±20.65 mmol/L; 3.40±0.90 mmol/L; 87.13±16.34 mmol/L; and 24.10±5.54 mmol/L respectively. When compared with the controls and the laboratory reported normal values, 50% of the patients were found to be hyponatraemic, 51% were hypochloraemic, 36% were hypokalaemic, while 11% had metabolic acidosis. Results based on sex showed insignificant differences between males and females for all electrolytes determined (p< 0.05). Insignificant differences were also observed between children and adult patients for all parameters determined (p< 0.05). In addition, weak positive correlations were observed between cations and anions determined in this study. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study showed that electrolytes’ abnormalities exist in patients with established typhoid fever attending General Hospital Minna, Niger state, Nigeria.