Typhoid peritonitis due to ileal and gallbladder perforations in a child: a case report

Typhoid fever is a common infectious disease in developing countries. Although ileal perforation is a known complication, gallbladder perforation remains rare and underreported.

We report the case of a 10-year-old boy presenting with generalized peritonitis. The initial surgery revealed an ileal perforation, followed by a second surgery 5 days later for a gallbladder perforation. Pathology confirmed chronic cholecystitis. The patient recovered after appropriate surgical and antibiotic management.

In all patients with typhoid fever, cholecystitis must be excluded as it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Intraoperatively, the gallbladder should be explored for possible areas of ischemia, necrosis, and impending perforation.

This case underscores the importance of considering gallbladder perforation as a rare yet serious complication of typhoid fever, particularly in endemic regions.