Intestinal Spirochaetosis-A case series from the developing world. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Majid, Zain; Abrar, Ghazi; Ismail, Hina; Danish, Muhammad; Mubarak, Muhammad; Luck, Nasir
• Is Part Of: Tropical doctor. Volume 52:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 134
• Page End: 138
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Intestinal spirochetosis -- metronidazole -- lower socio-economic status; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing Countries -- Periodicals; Tropical Medicine -- Periodicals; Tropische geneeskunde; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1177/00494755211049031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0049-4755

Abstract

Spirochaetes comprise a heterogenous group of gram negative, motile, spiral shaped bacteria. Some of these pathogens are known to cause numerous human diseases such as Lyme disease, relapsing fever, syphilis and leptospirosis. However, intestinal spirochetosis is a rare condition. Patients frequently present with long-term complaints of loose stools, abdominal pain and weight loss and rectal bleeding. Hence to establish a diagnosis an endoscopy with biopsy is required. In this article, we describe four such cases, having different ages and socio- economic background, successfully treated with a short course of metronidazole.