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Unusual complication of toxic megacolon in typhoid colitis

Thirunavukkarasu Arun Babu1, Shanthi Ananthakrishnan, P Jayakumar

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (IGMC&RI), Pondicherry, 605 010, India, babuarun@yahoo.com.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|August 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Toxic megacolon is a rare complication of typhoid colitis in children. This case highlights the critical need for prompt diagnosis and treatment of this severe condition in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Enteric fever, primarily caused by Salmonella Typhi, can present with rare gastrointestinal complications.
  • Colitis is an uncommon manifestation of enteric fever in pediatric populations.

Observation:

  • A seven-year-old girl presented with symptoms indicative of a severe medical emergency.
  • Clinical and diagnostic findings confirmed the presence of toxic megacolon secondary to typhoid colitis.

Findings:

  • The case details the diagnostic process and clinical course of a rare pediatric presentation of toxic megacolon.
  • Typhoid colitis was identified as the underlying cause of the toxic megacolon.

Implications:

  • Early recognition and aggressive management are crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric toxic megacolon.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of severe colitis in children.

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