Amoebic toxic megacolon with poly-helminthic coinfection: Case presentation and review of intestinal polyparasitic infections.
Int J Surg Case Rep 2020;
71:151-154. [PMID:
32450374 PMCID:
PMC7251492 DOI:
10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.04.032]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Intestinal parasitic infections are a health burden to developing countries, but can also become more prevalent worldwide, even in developed countries, with the advent of globalization. While most of these infections are benign, some may be associated with acute infections with high morbidity and mortality rates.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 36 years old patient presented with toxic megacolon with poly-helminthic infections, likely a result of raw food ingestion. She subsequently required multiple surgeries with a total colectectomy and small bowel resection, and ended up with an end-ileostomy.
DISCUSSION
Intestinal polyparasitism has been reported in undeveloped countries, but it appears that such a trend can be found in developed countries as well. Clinicians, especially those practicing in countries with large expatriate or immigrant worker populations, should be aware of this trend and adjust treatment protocols accordingly.
CONCLUSION
Even in countries whereby intestinal parasitic infections are not common, clinicians should have a heightened awareness of the possibility for such infections to be present, especially in returning travellers, expatriate or immigrant populations.
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