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Yersinia enterocolitis mimicking Crohn's disease in a toddler

A M Tuohy1, M O'Gorman, C Byington

  • 1Department of, University of Utah School of Medicine, Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84113-1100, USA.

Pediatrics
|September 2, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric Yersinia enterocolitis can mimic Crohn's disease, presenting with severe gastrointestinal symptoms and inflammation. Prompt identification and antibiotic treatment are crucial for recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Yersinia enterocolitica infection can present with diverse clinical manifestations in children.
  • Distinguishing infectious colitis from inflammatory bowel disease is a diagnostic challenge.

Observation:

  • A 3.5-year-old girl exhibited symptoms of persistent abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, oral ulceration, and anemia.
  • Imaging revealed ileocecal edema and mesenteric adenopathy; colonoscopy showed colitis, and enteroclysis demonstrated terminal ileum inflammation.

Findings:

  • Initial diagnosis considered Crohn's disease due to clinical deterioration despite antibiotics.
  • Yersinia enterocolitica was identified on hospital day nine, leading to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole treatment.
  • The patient showed prompt clinical improvement after initiating appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering infectious etiologies, such as Yersinia enterocolitis, in pediatric patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease.
  • The comprehensive clinical description provides valuable insights into the diagnostic challenges and presentation of Yersinia enterocolitis in children.
  • Early and accurate diagnosis of Yersinia enterocolitis can prevent unnecessary immunosuppressive therapy and guide appropriate antimicrobial treatment.

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