A case of amebic colitis cured with multiple cicatricial strictures

Abstract

A 53-year-old male was admitted to Gifu Red Cross Hospital with the complaints of diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. He had a temperature of 38.4 degrees C and diffuse abdominal tenderness without guarding or rebound. Plain film of the abdomen showed marked dilatation of the transverse colon. Sigmoidoscopy showed multiple aphthoid erosions and pseudomorphic ulcers, and mucosal biopsies demonstrated numerous trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica. The patient was treated with oral metronidazole with rapid improvement. Barium enema and colonoscopy after improvement showed multiple cicatricial strictures. Although prompt diagnosis and therapy prevented fulminant changes, the patient was cured with multiple cicatricial strictures, a rare complication of amebic colitis. It is important to keep in mind severe amebic colitis in the differential diagnosis of patients with diarrhea and high fever.