Neutropenic enterocolitis
Neutropenic enterocolitis (pronunciation: noo-troh-PEE-nik en-ter-oh-co-LIE-tis), also known as typhlitis, is a medical condition that affects the intestines. It is characterized by inflammation and necrosis of the cecum, although it can extend to other parts of the colon.
Etymology
The term "neutropenic enterocolitis" is derived from the words "neutropenia", which refers to a decrease in the number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell), and "enterocolitis", which means inflammation of the intestine. The term "typhlitis" comes from the Greek word "typhlon", meaning "blind", referring to the cecum's blind-ended nature.
Symptoms
Patients with neutropenic enterocolitis may experience a range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and nausea. In severe cases, the condition can lead to sepsis and shock.
Causes
Neutropenic enterocolitis is most commonly seen in patients with neutropenia, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The condition is thought to occur due to a combination of mucosal injury from chemotherapy and decreased immune response due to neutropenia.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of neutropenic enterocolitis is typically based on clinical symptoms and imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT) scans.
Treatment
Treatment for neutropenic enterocolitis typically involves antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and pain management. In severe cases, surgery may be required.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Neutropenic enterocolitis
- Wikipedia's article - Neutropenic enterocolitis
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski