Lymphocytic colitis presenting as difficult diarrhoea in an African woman: a case report and review of the literature

Udeme Ekrikpo ,Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo ,A O Oluwasola

doi:10.1186/1752-1947-4-31

Udeme Ekrikpo , Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-4-31

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Abstract

IntroductionLymphocytic colitis is an uncommon intestinal disorder that presents with chronic diarrhoea. It is treatable, but in the developing world, its diagnosis may often prove difficult. Data and reports of this condition in Africa are scarce because most medical centres lack a functional gastrointestinal endoscopy unit that would aid in the diagnosis.Case presentationWe present the case of a 53-year-old Nigerian woman with pathogen-negative chronic diarrhoea and a family history of chronic diarrhoea. She responded well to treatment after colonoscopy and colonic biopsy successfully diagnosed her illness.ConclusionReferral of patients with pathogen-negative chronic diarrhoea to medical centres that have facilities for colonoscopy and biopsy is important in the developing world.

Highlights

Lymphocytic colitis is an uncommon intestinal disorder that presents with chronic diarrhoea
Lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis make up a group of uncommon large bowel inflammatory conditions called microscopic colitis
We present a case of lymphocytic colitis in an African woman

Summary

Introduction

In the developing world where there is scarcity of facilities for endoscopy in many medical centres, patients presenting with chronic or recurrent diarrhoea for which no infective, metabolic or mechanical cause is found are usually thought to have the diarrhoeal type of irritable bowel syndrome and managed empirically as such. Case presentation A 53-year-old Nigerian woman with a 10-year history of recurrent passage of loose watery stools was referred to our facility following several unsuccessful antidiarrhoeal therapies and a suspicion of colonic tumour. She had five to six episodes daily of watery, non-mucoid and non-bloody stools not associated with vomiting, abdominal pain or cramps. The patient was subsequently placed on bismuth subsalicylate This resulted to the complete resolution of the diarrhoea after about two months of therapy. She is still being followed up in clinic

Discussion

Conclusions