Traveler's myopericarditis

Eur J Intern Med. 2008 Mar;19(2):146-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2007.04.023. Epub 2007 Oct 1.

Abstract

Colitis caused by Shigella is an uncommon etiology of infectious diarrhea in developed countries, usually presenting as traveler's diarrhea. Aside from clinical intestinal manifestations, shigellosis can present with a wide variety of extra-intestinal symptoms. We present the case of a 38-year-old man with diarrhea, fever, and chest pain that started after a holiday in Cape Verde (Africa). Blood samples revealed an increase in cardiac enzymes. An electrocardiogram revealed a widespread elevation of the ST segment. Echocardiography showed a swift pericardial effusion, confirming the diagnosis of acute myopericarditis. Shigella boydii was identified in stool cultures. The patient was treated with ciprofloxacin and acetylsalicylic acid, resulting in improvement in clinical and laboratory findings.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocarditis / drug therapy
  • Myocarditis / microbiology*
  • Pericardial Effusion / drug therapy
  • Pericardial Effusion / microbiology*
  • Pericarditis / drug therapy
  • Pericarditis / microbiology*
  • Shigella boydii / isolation & purification*
  • Travel
  • Treatment Outcome