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A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment
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Clostridium difficile colitis complicating Kawasaki disease in children: Two case reports

Maria Belen Rojas Gallegos1, Chaowapong Jarasvaraparn1, Lynn Batten2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA.

SAGE Open Medical Case Reports
|July 7, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium difficile infection can mimic symptoms of Kawasaki disease in children, complicating diagnosis. High suspicion for Kawasaki disease is crucial when children present with fever and C. difficile colitis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasingly diagnosed in children, presenting a spectrum of illness.
  • Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis primarily affecting young children, with diagnostic challenges due to non-specific symptoms and evolving presentation.
  • Diarrhea and abdominal pain are common in both CDI and KD, potentially confounding clinical assessment.

Observation:

  • Two pediatric cases are presented where children exhibited fever and Clostridium difficile colitis.
  • These cases highlight the diagnostic overlap between CDI and KD, particularly when gastrointestinal symptoms are prominent.

Findings:

  • The clinical presentation of CDI, including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain, can mimic initial symptoms of Kawasaki disease.
  • The presence of C. difficile colitis in children with KD underscores the need for a broad differential diagnosis.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for Kawasaki disease in children presenting with fever and C. difficile colitis.
  • Early and accurate diagnosis of KD is vital to prevent coronary artery abnormalities.
  • Recognizing overlapping symptoms is key to timely and appropriate management of pediatric patients.

Keywords:
Clostridium difficile infectionKawasaki diseasechildren

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