Fulminant Amebic Enteritis in the Perinatal Period

Intern Med. 2023 Aug 15;62(16):2341-2348. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0839-22. Epub 2022 Dec 28.

Abstract

Pregnancy is a known risk factor for amebic enteritis, which develops into potentially fatal fulminant amebic enteritis in some cases. We describe a case of a 27-year-old non-immunosuppressed pregnant woman with fulminant amebic enteritis complicated with cytomegalovirus enteritis. She improved with intensive care and intravenous metronidazole and ganciclovir but eventually required subtotal colectomy for intestinal stenosis. It is difficult to diagnose amebic enteritis, especially in a non-endemic area. Amebic enteritis must be considered as a differential diagnosis for refractory diarrhea with bloody stools in women in the perinatal period, even those without immunosuppression.

Keywords: amebic enteritis; cytomegalovirus; fulminant; intestinal amebiasis; operation; pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dysentery, Amebic* / complications
  • Enteritis* / complications
  • Enteritis* / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Ganciclovir
  • Humans
  • Metronidazole
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Metronidazole
  • Ganciclovir