Unusual Presentation of Shigellosis: Acute Perforated Appendicitis and Peritonitis

Shigella spp. is one of the most common agents that cause bacterial diarrhea and dysentery in developing countries. Clinical presentation of shigellosis may vary over a wide spectrum from mild diarrhea to severe dysentery. We report the case of 5.5-year-old previously healthy boy, who presented to our clinic with abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. On examination, we noticed abdominal tenderness with guarding at the right lower quadrant. With the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, open appendectomy was performed. Exploration of the abdominal cavity revealed perforated appendicitis and generalized peritonitis. Shigella sonnei was isolated from the peritoneal fluid culture. The patient completely recovered without any complications. Surgical complications, including appendicitis, could have developed during shigellosis. There are few reported cases of perforated appendicitis associated with Shigella. Prompt surgical intervention can be beneficial to prevent morbidity and mortality if it is performed early in the course of the disease.