Related Experiment Videos
Staphylococcal acalculous cholecystitis in a child
Vandana Batra1, Jocelyn Y Ang, Basim I Asmar
1Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|March 13, 2003
Summary
Acute acalculous cholecystitis, rare in children, presented in a 12-year-old with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Antibiotic therapy alone proved effective, highlighting the potential for medical management over surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Skeletal System Infections
Background:
- Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AACC) is gallbladder inflammation without stones, typically seen in critically ill adults.
- AACC is uncommon in pediatric patients, posing diagnostic challenges.
- Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia can lead to severe systemic infections.
Observation:
- A 12-year-old boy presented with fever, jaundice, and abdominal pain.
- The patient was diagnosed with AACC, sacroiliitis, and pelvic osteomyelitis.
- Blood cultures confirmed Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.
Findings:
- Successful treatment of AACC, sacroiliitis, and osteomyelitis was achieved with antibiotic therapy alone.
- Surgical intervention (cholecystectomy) was not required.
- The patient's recovery demonstrated the efficacy of medical management in this complex pediatric case.
Implications:
- A high index of suspicion is crucial for early diagnosis of AACC in children.
- Medical management with antibiotics can be a viable alternative to surgery for AACC in select pediatric cases.
- This case broadens the understanding of AACC presentation and treatment in the pediatric population.