Ulcerative colitis presenting as acute infectious gastroenteritis with a paralytic ileus

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08:40

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Suzanne Gerdien Schoenmaker1, Walther E Tjon a Ten

  • 1Pediatrics Department, Juliana Childrens' Hospital, The Hague, Netherlands.

BMJ Case Reports
|May 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Infection may trigger ulcerative colitis (UC) in adolescents. This case suggests a link between gastroenteritis and UC development, potentially involving nitric oxide in paralytic ileus.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology
  • Colorectal Surgery

Background:

  • Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
  • The etiology of UC is multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental factors.
  • Infectious triggers are hypothesized but not definitively established in UC pathogenesis.

Observation:

  • A 15-year-old female presented with symptoms of acute infectious gastroenteritis.
  • Two family members also experienced similar gastrointestinal symptoms.
  • The patient's condition did not improve with initial treatment.

Findings:

  • Sigmoidoscopy revealed findings consistent with ulcerative colitis (UC).
  • The study hypothesizes that an initial infection may have triggered the onset of UC.
  • Paralytic ileus in the patient is attributed to increased nitric oxide production in inflamed bowel tissues.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a potential infectious trigger for pediatric ulcerative colitis.
  • Understanding the role of infection in UC onset may lead to new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research is needed to explore the link between infections and inflammatory bowel disease development.

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