title: Chemical colitis from a hydrogen peroxide enema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Constipation is a common complaint seen in the emergency department for which patients will try many different remedies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This case report discusses the outcome of a patient who developed a chemical colitis after using a hydrogen peroxide enema to relieve his constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 43-year-old male with a history of chronic constipation presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with complaints of abdominal pain and hematochezia after self-administering a commercial sodium phosphate/sodium biphosphate enema mixed with hydrogen peroxide. The patient began to have left-sided abdominal cramping pain afterwards. He also began to have bowel movements mixed with bright red blood every 30 minutes. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed moderate to severe bowel wall thickening consistent with colitis involving the rectum extending to the distal one-third of the transverse colon. The patient was admitted to the internal medicine service for further monitoring. Gastroenterology was consulted for further management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The abdominal pain and hematochezia resolved and the patient was discharged the next day without complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216, USA. ydesai@umc.edu
authors.forename: Yagnesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orledge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003248:Constipation / Q000628:therapy*; D004733:Enema / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide