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[Low digestive hemorrhage caused by amebic colitis]
J Gironés Vila1, J Roig García, A Codina Cazador
1Servicio de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona.
Revista Espanola De Enfermedades Digestivas
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Amebiasis, an Entamoeba histolytica infection, can cause severe colitis. This case highlights a traveler who developed fulminant amebic colitis requiring emergency surgery and colectomy.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Colorectal Surgery
Background:
- Amebiasis is caused by Entamoeba histolytica, capable of invading the colon mucosa.
- Clinical presentations range from asymptomatic to severe colitis, with potential for perforation and bleeding.
Observation:
- A patient with recent travel to India presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever.
- Initial treatment with metronidazole and steroids was given due to diagnostic uncertainty between Crohn's Disease and amebic colitis.
Findings:
- The patient developed fulminant colitis with massive lower intestinal bleeding, necessitating emergency surgery.
- Surgical findings included perforations of the cecum and rectum, leading to a total colectomy with ileostomy.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering amebiasis in travelers presenting with severe colitis, even with initial diagnostic ambiguity.
- Prompt surgical intervention may be life-saving in fulminant amebic colitis with complications like perforation and massive hemorrhage.