What is beyond Salmonella gastroenteritis? A case of acute pancreatitis complicating Salmonella infection in a child: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Background Salmonella infection presents itself in a wide variety of ways, ranging from mild self-limited illness to severe systemic disease with multiorgan involvement. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a very rare complication that is associated with Salmonella infection, especially among the pediatric population. Case presentation A five-year-old boy presented with a two-day fever and experienced vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The boy was admitted as a case of acute gastroenteritis, and Salmonella was found in his stool culture. The severity of his abdominal pain during his hospital stay indicated the possibility of AP. A clinical examination and blood workup were performed and showed significant elevation in amylase and lipase, which confirmed the diagnosis of AP. Conclusion Although abdominal pain is a common presentation of Salmonella infection, the possibility of AP must be considered when the pain is severe and the characteristics of the pain are suggestive of AP. Herein, we report a case of AP complicating Salmonella infection in an immunocompetent child.

The Uncommons: A Case of Pancreatitis and Hepatitis Complicating Salmonella Infection

“…Acute pancreatitis has been reported in adult cases with either typhoid fever or non-typhoid Salmonella infection. Nevertheless, few cases have been reported in the pediatric population [5]. We present a case of acute hepatitis and pancreatitis in an otherwise healthy patient.…”

“…Non-typhoidal salmonellosis is characterized by a self-limiting acute episode of acute enterocolitis in most patients [4]. Clinical presentation may differ according to the patient's overall health and may present as an invasive non-diarrheal febrile illness, bacteremia, meningitis, and focal infection with significant morbidity and mortality [5,6]. Of note, patients at risk include infants and children, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients whose immune systems may fail to react to an invasive infection [7].…”

Occult colon cancer with liver abscess and pancreatitis as the first manifestations: A case report

“…[ 3 , 4 ] As medicine progressed, acute pancreatitis (AP) was characterized by bacterial infections, including salmonella and tuberculosis, in addition to the common causes such as Biliary tract disease, alcohol, and high triglycerides. [ 5 , 6 ] Klebsiella pneumoniae usually causes secondary infection after AP, there have been no cases of primary infectious pancreatitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae excluding other causes. The fatality rate of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is as high as 40%, [ 7 ] and the 5-year survival rate of advanced colon cancer is significantly lower than that of early colon cancer.…”