Case Report

Citrullus colocynthis as the Cause of Acute Rectorrhagia

Table 1

Summary of patients’ characteristics and findings.

Age Sex Ingested formTherapeutic purposePresentation Course Clinical findingsLab findingsImaging findingsColonoscopic findings

I28 yFDried pulpLaxative agentRectorrhagia Diarrhea progressing to bloody diarrhea and overt rectorrhagia in 4 hoursTenesmus (+)  
Nausea (−), vomiting (−)  
Abdominal  tenderness/rebound tenderness (−)  
BP = 110/70 mmHg (tilt sign (−))  
PR = 70/min, RR = 14/min, T = 37c   
O2  saturation = 96%
HB = 12.5 **/**  
in 6-hours followup: (−)
X-Ray: NL   
US: NL
Mucosal erosion

II32 yFFresh fruitHypoglycemic agentRectorrhagia Diarrhea progressing to bloody diarrhea and overt rectorrhagia in 3 hoursTenesmus (+)  
Nausea (−), vomiting (−)  
Abdominal  tenderness/rebound tenderness (−)  
BP = 130/70 mmHg (tilt sign (−))  
PR = 77/min, RR = 13/min, T = 37.2c   
O2 saturation = 96%
HB = 14
**/**  
in 6-hours followup: (−)
X-Ray: NL   
US: NL
Mucosal erosion

III 57 y F Brewed extract Hypoglycemic agent Rectorrhagia Diarrhea progressing to bloody diarrhea and overt rectorrhagia in 3 hoursTenesmus (+)  
Nausea (−), vomiting (−)  
Abdominal  tenderness/rebound tenderness (−)  
BP = 130/70 mmHg (tilt sign (−))  
PR = 81/min, RR = 14/min, T = 37.2c   
O2 saturation = 94%
HB = 12.5 **/**  
in 6-hours followup: (−)
X-Ray: NL   
US: NL
Mucosal erosion
The patient experienced an AF RVR 1 hour after admission which was controlled with supportive treatmentsDuring the course of AF:   
BP = 105/95 mmHg   
PR > 100/min, RR = 16/min  
O2 saturation = 96%
Na = 131  
K = 3.5

IV45 yFBrewed extractHypoglycemic agentRectorrhagia Diarrhea progressing to bloody diarrhea and overt rectorrhagia in 3.5 hoursTenesmus (+)  
Nausea (−), vomiting (−)  
Abdominal  tenderness/rebound tenderness (−)  
BP = 110/95 mmHg (tilt sign (−))  
PR = 81/min, RR = 13/min, T = 37.2c   
O2 saturation = 95%
HB = 13.7 **/**  
in 6-hours followup: (−)
X-Ray: NL
US: NL
Mucosal erosion