Contemporary methods for the diagnosis and treatment of microscopic colitis

Is There a Role for Bismuth in Diarrhea Management?

Diarrhea, an illness of both the developed and developing world, involves the burdensome characteristics of frequent bowel movements, loose stools, and abdominal discomfort. Diarrhea is a long-standing challenge in palliative care and can have a myriad of causes, making symptomatic treatment pertinent when illness evaluation is ongoing, when there is no definitive treatment approach, or when effective treatment cannot be attained. Symptomatic therapy is a common approach in palliative care settings. Bismuth is a suitable agent for symptomatic therapy and can be effectively employed for management of chronic diarrhea. The objective of this narrative review is to examine the role of bismuth in management of diarrheal symptoms. To explore this, PubMed (including Medline) and Embase were used to search the existing literature on bismuth and diarrhea published from 1980 to 2019. It was found that bismuth has potential utility for diarrheal relief in multiple settings, including microscopic colitis, traveler's diarrhea, gastrointestinal infection, cancer, and chemotherapy. It also has great potential for use in palliative care patients, due to its minimal side effects. Overall, the antisecretory, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties of bismuth make it a suitable therapy for symptomatic treatment of diarrhea. The limited range of adverse side effects makes it an appealing option for patients with numerous comorbidities. Healthcare providers can explore bismuth as an adjunct therapy for diarrhea management in an array of conditions, especially in the palliative care setting.

Collagenous colitis in a child induced by chronic respiratory allergy: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Collagen colitis (CC) is a microscopic colitis diagnosed by mucosal biopsy and is extremely rare in children.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We reported a child with severe persistent diarrhea that could not be relieved with traditional diarrheal treatment. No abnormalities were found after multiple colonoscopies.

DIAGNOSES

A significant increase in total IgE levels was found in the patient's blood. He had a history of mild chronic allergic rhinitis and slightly intermittent wheezing. However, we found that the child had a hyperallergic reaction to multiple respiratory antigens and had mild pulmonary dysfunction. Finally, colonoscopy with biopsy identified the diagnosis of CC.

INTERVENTION

Considering that a respiratory allergic reaction was one of the causes of diarrhea, anti-allergic treatment was given to the child, and his severe diarrhea was soon relieved. Corticosteroid treatment was suggested to the patient, but his parents firmly refused steroid therapy. According to the patient's specific allergic reaction to mites, desensitization treatment was finally chosen for him.

OUTCOMES

After 1 year of desensitization for dust mites, the patient's respiratory symptoms improved, total IgE levels decreased, autoantibodies declined, and diarrhea did not reoccur. Colonoscopy with biopsy showed a significant improvement in pathology.

CONCLUSION

CC in children is rare, and childhood CC induced by a respiratory allergic reaction has not been previously reported. Therefore, this is a special case of CC in a patient who was cured with anti-allergy treatments and desensitization instead of steroid therapy.

Bismuth Toxicity Presenting as Declining Mobility and Falls

A 77-year old woman presented with a history of falls. Known health problems included biopsy-proven collagenous colitis treated with bismuth subsalicylate. On examination, in addition to impaired balance and gait, she was found to have tremors and cognitive deficits. Investigations revealed a markedly elevated urinary bismuth level. Withdrawal of bismuth subsalicylate led to marked cognitive and physical improvement.