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Intractable diarrhea of infancy due to intestinal coccidiosis

W M Liebman, M M Thaler, A DeLorimier

    Gastroenterology
    |March 1, 1980
    PubMed

    Insights

    Intestinal coccidiosis caused fatal intractable diarrhea in an infant, resisting standard treatments. This parasitic infection infiltrated the intestinal lining, leading to severe fluid loss and highlighting a critical differential diagnosis for infant diarrhea.

    Area of Science:

    • Gastroenterology
    • Parasitology
    • Pediatrics

    Background:

    • Intractable diarrhea of infancy is a challenging clinical condition.
    • Coccidiosis is a parasitic infection affecting the intestines.

    Observation:

    • A 6-month-old infant presented with severe, intractable diarrhea.
    • The infant received 30 weeks of total parenteral nutrition.
    • Treatment with antibiotics, hydrocortisone, and antimetabolites was ineffective.

    Findings:

    • Intestinal biopsies revealed mucosa infiltrated with coccidia at various life cycle stages.
    • The diarrhea exhibited cholera-like hypersecretion of intraluminal fluid.
    • The case was refractory to conventional medical interventions.

    Implications:

    • Intestinal coccidiosis should be considered in cases of intractable infant diarrhea.
    • This parasitic infection represents a rare but serious cause of severe pediatric gastrointestinal distress.
    • Further research into parasitic causes of infant diarrhea is warranted.

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