Low digestive hemorrhage caused by amebic colitis
Gironés Vila, J.; Roig García, J.; Codina Cazador, A.; Masvidal Calpe, R.; García Oria, M.; Codina Barreras, A.; Pérez Bueno, F.
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades Digestivas Organo Oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestiva 88(3): 223-225
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1130-0108 PMID: 8645519 Document Number: 456696
Amebiasis is an infectious disease produced by Entamoeba histolytica, which has invasion capacity of the colon mucosa. It has different clinical forms, varying from the asymptomatic carrier state to severe, although not frequent, fulminant or necrotizing colitis, with an important necrosis of the colon mucosa. Perforation or intestinal bleeding are possible. We report one case of patient who had a history of recent travel to India. Was admitted with a clinical picture of abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. Initially he received treatment with Metronidazole and steroids, because of doubts in the endoscopy diagnosis of Crohn's Disease versus Amebic Colitis. The patient developed a fulminant colitis, that required emergency surgery because of lower intestinal massive bleeding. During the operation perforations of the caecum and rectum were found. We performed a total colectomy with ileostomy and closing of the stump rectal. Six months later a second operation was made for the reconstruction of the intestinal continuity by an ileal pouch and rectal anastomosis.