Ultrasonographic assessment of Salmonella enterocolitis in children

Abstract

Background. Salmonella enterocolitis (SE) is one of the important causes of acute infectious diarrhoea. Imaging studies are rarely performed on these patients. Consequently, ultrasound (US) features of SE are controversial. Objective. To identify the clinical significance of US in the evaluation of SE. Material and methods. Abdominal US was performed in 15 patients with SE and 9 patients with Rotavirus enterocolitis (RE). Results. Ascites was present in 60 % and mural thickening of the colon in 40 % of patients with SE on abdominal US, whereas we could not identify these features in patients with RE. In patients with SE, colonic wall thickening; and ascites, the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher as compared to patients with SE and no colonic wall thickening or ascites. Also, the stool occult blood test was positive more often in patients with colonic wall thickening and ascites on US than in patients without these findings. The colonic wall thickness significantly correlated with CRP and stool occult blood level. Conclusions. US is able to identify pathological changes in bowel and intra-abdominal spaces. The US findings of ascites and colonic wall thickening may be useful for determining the severity of SE.