Campylobacter jejuni should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young patients presenting with chest pain and diarrhea, as it can cause acute myocarditis.
Campylobacter jejuni, a common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, has also been associated with rare extraintestinal infections, including myocarditis. We report a unique case of a 24-year-old male who presented with febrile diarrhea and acute chest pain. Diagnostic investigations revealed elevated cardiac troponin levels, normal electrocardiography findings, and myocardial inflammation on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, confirming the diagnosis of acute myocarditis. Stool cultures identified Campylobacter jejuni as the causative agent. The patient was managed with supportive care, including hydration and electrolyte replacement, and a three-day course of azithromycin (500 mg daily). He achieved a full recovery and was discharged after eight days, with subsequent follow-up demonstrating the complete resolution of myocardial dysfunction. This case emphasizes the need to consider Campylobacter jejuni-related myocarditis in the differential diagnosis of young patients presenting with chest pain and diarrhea, along with an overview of its diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Zouganeli et al. (2024) studied this question.