[Toxic megacolon and intestinal perforation caused by Salmonella enteritidis]

Abstract

Two cases of colitis due to Salmonella enteriditis which later developed a toxic megacolon with intestinal perforation are presented and the probable pathogenesis is discussed. This exceptional clinical course which has not been previously described forces to perform a differential diagnosis with chronic intestinal inflammatory disease which must be based on microbiologic, serologic and/or histologic criteria. Moreover, the authors warn about the unsuitability of using anticholigernic drugs in gastroenteritis since they could be related to the ethiopathogenical basis of the disease's unfavorable course in the described patients.