A 32 year old person comes to the hospital after 2 weeks of the onset of diarrhoea. Diagnosis of typhoid can be confirmed with
**Core Concept**
The question is testing the concept of laboratory diagnosis of typhoid fever, which is an enteric fever caused by Salmonella Typhi. The correct answer involves identifying the most reliable and confirmatory test for diagnosing typhoid.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The Widal test, also known as the Weil-Felix test, is a serological test used to diagnose typhoid fever. It measures the presence of antibodies against the O and H antigens of Salmonella Typhi in the patient's serum. The test is based on the principle of agglutination, where the patient's serum is mixed with the antigens, and the presence of antibodies causes the antigens to clump together. The test is most reliable when performed in the second to third week of the illness, as it detects the rising antibody titers against the O and H antigens. This makes it a confirmatory test for diagnosing typhoid fever.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Blood culture is not the most reliable test for diagnosing typhoid fever, as it may be negative in the early stages of the disease.
**Option B:** Stool culture may be positive in the early stages of the disease, but it is not as reliable as the Widal test for confirming the diagnosis of typhoid fever.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The Widal test is most reliable when performed in the second to third week of the illness, as it detects the rising antibody titers against the O and H antigens.
**Correct Answer:** C. Widal test.