Necrotizing enteritis simulating Pig-Bel disease in northern India.
OBJECTIVE
A clinicopathological study of patients presenting with necrotizing enteritis, similar to the Pig-Bel disease of Papua New Guinea.


METHODS
A clinicopathological study of 95 patients presenting in last ten years with acute abdominal pain with diarrhea and/or bleeding per rectum and vomiting and found to have lesions similar to Pig-Bel disease.


RESULTS
89% of the patients were young adult vegetarians from lower socio-economic strata. 94% of cases presented between May and August every year showing a marked seasonal variation. Jejunum was the most common site (95%) involved. Gross examination showed blackish brown 'skip' lesions with gangrene and perforations. Histology showed marked necrosis and congestion of all the layers with mucosal ulcerations.


CONCLUSIONS
A disease simulating Pig-Bel disease occurs in India. It is more common in young adult vegetarians and may have a different etiology from that proposed in endemic regions.
Gupta
S C
SC
Department of Pathology, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad.
Mishra
V
V
Mishra
S P
SP
Gupta
A K
AK
Keshwani
N K
NK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004751:Enteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis