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When Doe Widal Test Come Negative?
Hi, I got fever last week(around 103 deg). Doctor asked to go for a blood sample. Widal came positive. I took the medicines prescribed by the doctor that night and next day, again went for Widal test for second opinion. This time it came negative. I asked the doctor and he said that after the medicine is taken, the Widal may come negative. Is is true that just after first dose, Widal comes negative?
Mon, 21 Apr 2014
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Widal test is done for enteric fever- typhoid and paratyphoid fever.
When positive, enteric fever is confirmed.
However, negative test does not rule out enteric fever.
A single dose of antibiotic can cause to the test to be negative even if typhoid is positive.
Continue your treatment since the test came out to be positive before taking the medicine.
Typhoid was definitely present.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
Widal test is done for enteric fever- typhoid and paratyphoid fever.
When positive, enteric fever is confirmed.
However, negative test does not rule out enteric fever.
A single dose of antibiotic can cause to the test to be negative even if typhoid is positive.
Continue your treatment since the test came out to be positive before taking the medicine.
Typhoid was definitely present.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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