Case report
Gallbladder Perforation Secondary to Salmonella Typhi Infection in a Child: A Rare Case Report
SD13-SD15
Correspondence
Dr. Revathi Varadarajan,
Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai-600044, Tamil Nadu, India.
E-mail: revathi.paediatrics@bharathuniv.ac.in
Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis (AAC) is an uncommon inflammatory disorder of the gallbladder occurring in the absence of gallstones and is typically seen in critically ill patients. In the paediatric population, AAC is rare but has been reported in association with systemic infections, dehydration, and inflammatory states. Enteric fever caused by Salmonella typh remains endemic in developing countries and may involve the hepatobiliary system, leading to complications such as cholecystitis and, rarely, gallbladder perforation. Due to nonspecific clinical features, diagnosis is often delayed, increasing the risk of morbidity. This report describes an unusual case of Salmonella typhi–induced AAC complicated by concealed gallbladder perforation in an eight-year-old child, successfully managed with subtotal cholecystectomy. An eight-year-old girl presented with high grade fever, abdominal pain and non bilious vomiting. Investigative work-up revealed acalculous cholecystitis due to Salmonella typhi, resulting in gallbladder perforation. The child recovered due to timely surgical intervention and appropriate antibiotic therapy. The present case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for hepatobiliary complications in children with enteric fever presenting with acute abdomen.