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[Ulcerative colitis]
Insights
This study presents two pediatric cases of ulcerative colitis in Chile, a condition rarely documented there. Both children responded well to salazosulfapyridine treatment, indicating a viable therapeutic option.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research
Background:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with limited documented cases in Chilean children.
- This study addresses the infrequent reporting of pediatric UC within the Chilean context.
Observation:
- Two pediatric patients, a 14-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, presented with prolonged diarrhea, bloody stools, weight loss, anemia, and abdominal pain.
- Diagnostic evaluations included negative stool analyses for pathogens, barium enema revealing mucosal ulceration, rectosigmoidoscopy showing mucosal inflammation and erosions, and histological confirmation of crypt abscesses and lamina propria inflammation.
Findings:
- The diagnostic findings confirmed ulcerative colitis in both pediatric patients.
- Both cases demonstrated a satisfactory therapeutic response to salazosulfapyridine treatment.
Implications:
- Highlights the occurrence of ulcerative colitis in Chilean children, expanding the understanding of its geographical distribution.
- Suggests salazosulfapyridine as an effective treatment for pediatric ulcerative colitis in this population.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering and diagnosing UC in children presenting with relevant gastrointestinal symptoms, even in regions with limited prior reports.
Abstract:
Ulcerative colitis in children has been seldom described in Chile. The cases of a 14 year old girl and a 10 year old boy with this disease are presented. Both had diarrhea for more than two months--which was continuous in the first case and intermittent in the other one--, bloody stools, weight loss, anemia and abdominal pain. Bacteriological and parasitological examination of stools were negative. Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was based on barium enema, which showed mucosal ulceration and loss of the normal claustral pattern, rectosigmoidoscopy, that revealed hyperemia, friability and erosions of the corresponding segments of intestinal mucosa, and on histological examination of multiple mucosal biopsies, which disclosed crypt abscess, distorted crypt pattern, inflammation of the lamina propria and decreased number of goblet cells. Both cases were treated with salazosulfapyridine with satisfactory response.