Summary
The case report of a 10-year-old boy, admitted to the hospital after he had experienced 4 days of periumbilical abdominal pain, intermittent vomiting, and diarrhea, is presented. He had proctoscopic and radiologic findings resembling ulcerative colitis. However, further analysis of laboratory data suggested hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Since the patient in the pediatric age group presents with a clinical picture mimicking ulcerative colitis, this hemolytic-uremic syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis. Examination of a peripheral smear revealing typical findings of microangiopathic, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and a rising blood urea nitrogen value will lead to the diagnosis of hemolytic-uremic syndrome and early appropriate therapy.
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References
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The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
Address for reprint requests: Technical Publications Editor, Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio of San Francisco, California 94129.
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Craner, G.E., Burdick, G.E. Acute colitis resembling ulcerative colitis in the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Digest Dis Sci 21, 74–76 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01074143
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01074143