Acute fulminant amoebic colitis: A Case report
Amoebiasis is a parasitic infection that represents a public health problem in developing countries including Asia and Latin America where it is endemic (1000-5000 cases/100,000 habitants/year). The majority of patients have an asymptomatic course; however, 10% of patients develop complications with...
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Published in | SAGE open medical case reports Vol. 11; p. 2050313X231205127 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , |
Format | Report |
Language | English |
Published |
01.01.2023
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Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Amoebiasis is a parasitic infection that represents a public health problem in developing countries including Asia and Latin America where it is endemic (1000-5000 cases/100,000 habitants/year). The majority of patients have an asymptomatic course; however, 10% of patients develop complications with high morbidity and mortality, such as colonic perforation or fulminant amoebic colitis. We report a case in which a 73-year-old female presented with an acute abdomen that was initially attributed to a bowel obstruction that rapidly progressed to fulminant colitis with bowel perforation requiring total colectomy. Pre-surgical endoscopic histopathological examination revealed findings suggestive of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites that were later confirmed in the colon post-surgical specimen leading to a diagnosis of fulminant amoebic colitis. This atypical presentation of amoebiasis, further expands the already broad differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pathology in the elderly population. A high index of suspicion is required for its prompt treatment and to prevent life-threatening complications. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Case Study-2 content type line 59 SourceType-Reports-1 ObjectType-Report-1 |
ISSN: | 2050-313X 2050-313X |
DOI: | 10.1177/2050313X231205127 |