Acute acalculous cholecystitis complicating typhoid fever in an adult patient: A case report and review of the literature

SummaryA case of typhoidal acalculous cholecystitis is described in a 31-year-old Indian man, who was admitted with 4-day fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. On examination, he looked ill, but was conscious and febrile with icteric sclera. The right upper quadrant of the abdomen was tender. Investigations showed high liver enzymes with high total bilirubin. Abdominal ultrasound findings were consistent with the diagnosis of acalculous cholecystitis and Salmonella enterica serovar typhi was isolated from the blood. After a 2-week course of ceftriaxone (2 g once daily) the patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged. In this report the literature is reviewed and the pathogenesis of the disease is discussed.