The Widal test is extensively used to diagnose typhoid in both public and private sectors. Typhoid spreads through contaminated food and water and is caused by Salmonella typhiand other related bacteria.
- Also known as enteric fever, it presents with a high fever, stomach pain, weakness, and other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, and a rash. Some people, called carriers, may remain symptom-free and shed the bacteria in their stool for several months to years.
- As with other infections, our immune system produces antibodies in the blood against the bacteria, causing enteric fever.
- The Widal test rapidly detects and quantifies these antibodies (O and H antibody) against flagellar (H) and somatic (O) antigens. It’s a point-of-care test and doesn’t need special skills or infrastructure.
