[Colitic variant of the gastrointestinal form of salmonellosis]

Of 3327 hospitalized patients with salmonellosis, a clinical picture of isolated distal colitis was noted in 142 (4.3%). Acute dysentery was diagnosed in them before the results of bacteriological stool examination were ready. In this variant of salmonellosis S. enteritidis and S. haifa were detected twice as more frequently than in the other variants. As compared to dysentery, the colitic variant of salmonellosis was characterized by more marked intoxication syndrome whereas stomach pains were less spasmodic, less frequently localized in the sigmoid colon; important symptoms for differential diagnosis like tenesmus, false rectal tenesmus, pains and spasms of the sigmoid colon were less frequently noted. Therefore this type of salmonellosis should be included in the clinical classification of salmonellosis of adults on the basis of an obvious clinical picture.