Keimyung Med J.  2014 Dec;33(2):136-137. 10.0000/kmj.2014.33.2.136.

Rectal Prolapse Complicated withC lostridium difficile-associated Pseudomembranous Colitis in a Child

• Lee MS
• Kim JS

• KMID: 1967201
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kmj.2014.33.2.136

Abstract

Among the complications of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection, rectal prolapse has been very rarely reported in children. We report a 29-month-old girl who presented with rectal prolapse complicated with C. difficile-associated pseudomembranous colitis following 3-week course of oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for treatment of acute otitis media. The patient complained of fever, abdominal pain and mucoid bloody diarrhea. She also showed a protruded and everted rectal mucosa with discrete white-yellowish exudative plaques. Abdominal CT scan revealed a diffuse wall thickening with mucosal enhancement of the rectosigmoid colon. Both stool culture and toxin assay for C. difficile were positive. Her symptoms were completely improved with oral metronidazole treatment. C. diffile-associated pseudomembranous colitis should be considered as a rare but possible cause of rectal prolapse in children who have recently received antibiotic therapy.

Keyword

Child; Clostridium difficile; Pseudomembranous colitis; Rectal prolapse

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Child*
Child, Preschool
Clostridium difficile
Colon
Diarrhea
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous*
Female
Fever
Humans
Metronidazole
Mucous Membrane
Otitis Media
Rectal Prolapse*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Metronidazole