[Salmonella-cholecystitis (author's transl)]

Gastroenteritis due to Salmonella enteritis is an endemic disease in our region, extraintestinal manifestations however are rare. We report a 8 years old girl who presented after 4 days of an unspecific diarrheal disease with watery liquid stools, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever above 39 Grad C and symptoms and signs of an acute abdominal emergency. Mid abdominal laparotomy disclosed a cholecystitis with reactive peritonitis. Cultures of bile showed Salmonella group B as the causative organism. Cholecystectomy was performed, postoperatively Gentamycin later Chloramphenicol was administered. The postoperative course was unremarkable. Cholecystitis is a rare disease in pediatrics. Gallstones don't seem to play a roll in the etiology unlike in adults. It usually follow serious systemic infections or postoperatively after unrelated abdominal surgery due to overgrowth of the biliary system and organisms contaminating the upper gastrointestinal tract (biliary stasis, dehydration). Salmonella enteritidis as a cause of a cholecystitis is a rare event.