Year 2020 / Volume 112 / Number 5
Letter
An uncommon cause of chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea

419-420

DOI: 10.17235/reed.2020.6657/2019

Esteban A. Fuentes Valenzuela, Elda Oyarzún Bahamonde, Henar Núñez Rodríguez,

Abstract
The intestinal spirochaetosis is defined as the presence of spirochetes on the colonic surface. We present the case of a 57-years-old male, with a history of 4-5 months of diffuse abdominal pain, watery diarrhoea due to this infection. The colonoscopy revealed a serpiginous ulcer in the cecum. The biopsy was positive for intestinal spirochaetosis. It is rare infection, more common among immunocompromised patients and HIV, with a faecal-oral transmission. Most cases are incidental findings in the endoscopic screening. In symptomatic patients the watery diarrhoea and non-specific abdominal pain are the most common symptoms. The macroscopic appearance on the colonoscopy is often normal or non-specific lesions can be identified. The diagnosis is based on the biopsy with haematoxylin and eosin and the confirmation can be made with a Warthin-Starry stain. In symptomatic patients the metronidazole is the preferred treatment option. Although it is rare infection, clinicians should be aware of it in patients with common gastrointestinal symptoms.
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References
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Fuentes Valenzuela E, Oyarzún Bahamonde E, Núñez Rodríguez H. An uncommon cause of chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea . 6657/2019


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Publication history

Received: 02/10/2019

Accepted: 10/10/2019

Online First: 27/04/2020

Published: 08/05/2020

Article Online First time: 208 days

Article editing time: 219 days


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