1 Department of Pediatrics, Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, P.O. Box 4, St. Marc, Haiti W.I.
The results are presented of the treatment of 99 infants and children with initially Uncomplicated typhoid fever. The effect of addition of steroids to the chloramphenicol treatment and usual therapeutic regime is discussed. The rapid relief of fever and toxicity, noted eleswhere, was confirmed. This changed our treatment from a mostly inpatient to a mostly outpatient basis, such as is particularly useful, when possible, for hospitals in overcrowded, underdeveloped areas.
The striking reduction in mortality and morbidity in steroid-treated patients warrants further investigation. Caution is recommended in the use of steroids in patients with history of fever for 2 weeks or more, as most typhoid perforations occur in the third week.