[Generalized toxic symptoms caused by Clostridium difficile infection in a patient with Wilms' tumor]

This case report describes a 15 months-old patient with Wilms' tumor, who was treated with radical operation and chemotherapy. During hospitalization the patient suffered from recurrent lung infections, which were treated with appropriate antibiotics. Subsequently, the patient developed severe abdominal affection with daily melena, liver and kidney involvement, and generalized edema and hypertension. Cl. difficile and its cytotoxin was demonstrated in feces, and the patient was successfully treated with vancomycin. Although rare, Cl. difficile may cause severe generalised illness in children under two years of age, and it is important to examine any infant with abdominal symptoms for the occurrence of Cl. difficile, even though no diarrhoea is present.