RESUMEN
A 15-year-old girl who presented with signs of acute infectious gastroenteritis, just as two members of her family is described. As the patient did not improve, a sigmoidoscopy was performed and the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) was made. Our hypothesis is that an infection triggered the development of UC. Her paralytic ileus was probably triggered by the increased nitric oxide produced in the macrophages and smooth muscles of the inflamed bowel.
Asunto(s)
Colitis Ulcerosa/diagnóstico , Gastroenteritis/diagnóstico , Seudoobstrucción Intestinal/diagnóstico , Adolescente , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/uso terapéutico , Colitis Ulcerosa/tratamiento farmacológico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Femenino , Fármacos Gastrointestinales/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Infliximab , Seudoobstrucción Intestinal/tratamiento farmacológico , SigmoidoscopíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) in children may be caused by entrapment of cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves (anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome, or ACNES). Local injection of anesthetics may offer relief, but pain is persistent in some children. This study is the first to describe the results of a 'cutaneous neurectomy' in children with refractory ACNES. METHODS: Chronic abdominal pain children with suspected ACNES refractory to conservative treatment received a cutaneous neurectomy in a day care setting. They were interviewed postoperatively using an adapted quality of life questionnaire (testing quality of life in children). RESULTS: All subjects (n = 6; median age, 15 years; range, 9-16 years) were previously healthy school-aged children without prior illness or earlier surgery. Each presented with intense abdominal pain and a positive Carnett sign. Blood, urine tests, and abdominal ultrasound investigations were normal. Delay in seeing a physician was 16 weeks, and school absence was 25 days. Before surgery, quality of life (pain, daily activities, and sports) was greatly diminished. After the neurectomy, all children were free of pain and had resumed their normal daily routine (follow-up at 6 months). CONCLUSIONS: The role of the abdominal wall as the source of childhood CAP is underestimated. Some children with CAP have ACNES. Children with refractory ACNES should be offered a cutaneous neurectomy, as this simple technique is effective in the short and long term.