Toxic dilatation of the colon in shigellosis.

BrAfedj 1990;301:1325-6 Toxic megacolon is a rare complication of shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) but it occurs with acute infections caused by Salmonella spp, Campylobacter jejuni, and Yersinia enterocolitica.'4 A correct diagnosis is essential because treatment with corticosteroids can cause serious, potentially fatal complications. Furthermore, an unnecessary colonic resection may be performed inadvertently. The following two cases show that toxic megacolon can result from shigellosis in travellers even when faecal culture is negative.