Epidemiology of suspected typhoid fever cases from 2020 to 2022

Abstract

Introduction. Typhoid fever is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, which is usually transmitted through contaminated food or water. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhea. Objective. To characterize epidemiologically the suspected cases of typhoid fever in the years 2020 to 2022. Methodology. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used with national data from the National Epidemiological Surveillance System of El Salvador by means of a spreadsheet, followed by a quality control of the information and taking into account epidemiological variables such as sex, age, area, department, municipality, incidence rate and notification of cases. Absolute frequencies and ratios, incidence rates per 100 thousand inhabitants were used and tables and graphs were generated. Result. Twenty-six percent of the cases were reported in 2020, 38 % in 2021 and 37 % in 2022. Fifty-one percent of the cases were male. The median age was 23 years. The highest incidence rate in age groups was found from 20 to 29 years with 25 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants for the year 2021. The urban/rural ratio was 3:1. The incidence rate for the year 2022 was 11.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, for 2021 it was 12.1 cases and for 2020 it was 8 cases, with a predominance of the department of San Salvador in the three years. Conclusion. The highest notification was in the metropolitan area in age groups 19 to 29 years of age in the male gender. The incidence did not vary between the years studied.