The Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and lmmunology Online Journal

Abstract

The Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology > Vol.31 No.2 contents > Abstract

Article in Japanese

Clinical study of children with Yersinia enterocolitica infection

Masaaki USAMI1,2), Masaki SHIMIZU1,2), Yusuke YACHI1), Sayaka ISHIKAWA1), Kazuyuki IWAI1), Eiji KATO1)

Yersinia enterocolitica is a major causative organism of acute gastroenteritis in children. However, there are few reports on the clinical features of Y. enterocolitica infection in Japanese children. Therefore, this study retrospectively investigated clinical manifestations of Y. enterocolitica infection in 98 child patients treated in this hospital from 1993 to 2016. Of the 98 children (55 boys and 43 girls), 32 (33%) were infants younger than 1 year of age. Y. enterocolitica infection was observed most frequently in the summer. Diarrhea was observed in 83 patients (85%), bloody stool in 14 (14%), nausea in 23 (23%), and fever in 63 (64%). Abdominal pain was observed in 50 (51%), of which 28 had lower right abdominal pain, and appendicitis was suspected, while 17 of them had no diarrhea. Clinical manifestations of Y. enterocolitica infection in Japanese children showed age-dependent characteristics. Most infants and toddlers had diarrhea, whereas most of the older children (>3 years) showed lower right abdominal pain. Y. enterocolitica infection should be suspected in infants with protracted diarrhea, and stool culture should be considered. Furthermore, terminal ileitis caused by Y. enterocolitica from appendicitis should be differentiated in pediatric patients with lower right abdominal pain, even in those without diarrhea.


1) Department of Pediatrics, Fukuiken Saiseikai Hospital
2) Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University

Key words Yersinia enterocolitica, children
Received June 4, 2018
Accepted February 14, 2019

31 (2):111─118,2019

PAGE TOP