Renal dysfunction in enteric fever.

Twenty-five culture positive cases of enteric fever were studied to see the effect of the disease on various kidney functions. The parameters studied were urine examination, blood urea, serum creatinine, serum electrolytes, 24 hours urinary examination (proteins, creatinine, electrolytes), creatinine clearance rate, plain X-ray abdomen, intravenous urogram and circulating immune complexes. Fifteen patients with fever of non-specific origin served as controls. Renal dysfunction was observed in four patients (16%). Repeat tests showed that abnormalities of renal functions, though significant, were short lasting and reversible. Renal biopsy done in three of these cases did not reveal any abnormality.