Description
The specimen shows the greater part of the colon; the wall is thickened; there are patchy
haemorrhagic areas throughout with pinpoint ulceration in many areas and occasionally a larger
ulcer. In some areas a yellowish exudate can be seen.
History
Some two days before his death this child, aged two years, presented with diarrhoea and
vomiting; siblings ages six and eight years respectively were also affected. The child deteriorated
quickly and died in Casualty. Autopsy showed a bronchopneumonia and an entero-colitis from
which Shigella flexneri was isolated.