Abstract

IZAGUIRRE-GONZALEZ, Allan I; RIVAS, Beatriz Amalia; DE AZALEA GIRON, Flor  and  THERESA HENRIQUEZ, Diana. Pseudomembranous colitis as postmortem finding in pediatric patient. Case report. Acta méd. Peru [online]. 2016, vol.33, n.4, pp.317-321. ISSN 1728-5917.

Pseudomembranous colitis is a severe and often fatal condition that may occur after the administration of some antimicrobial agents. There is suppression of the normal intestinal flora, followed by colonization by Clostridium difficile; and this condition is characterized by acute inflammation and presence of necrotic tissue pseudomembranes in the colon mucosa. We present the case of a nine-year-old boy from a rural area in Honduras, with a history of intermittent fever lasting four weeks, accompanied by chills, myalgia, nausea, and jaundice in the last week. He was previously seen in a primary care center with antipyretics, without improvement. The physical examination showed a lucid patient with hypotension, tachycardia, and fever; epigastric and bilateral hypochondrial abdominal pain on superficial and deep palpation was evidenced. Hepatomegaly, jaundice, and petechiae were also found. Laboratory tests showed severe pancytopenia, acute renal failure, hydroelectrolytic disturbances, and hypoalbuminemia. The patient was admitted to the Pediatric Urgency service. After a poor progression, he passed away nineteen days after admission. The necropsy showed necrotic pseudomembranes in the colon and a histological image resembling the shape of a volcano, compatible with pseudomembranous colitis

Keywords : Enterocolitis, pseudomembranous; Shock, septic; Pediatrics; Autopsy.