RT Journal
A1 Woywodt A, Kiss A
T1 PErforation of the sigmoid colon due to geophagia
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 1999
FD January 1
VO 134
IS 1
SP 88
OP 89
DO 10.1001/archsurg.134.1.88
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.134.1.88
AB Geophagia, the habit of eating earth, soil, or clay, is common among African women and frequently encountered during pregnancy. The condition is relatively benign; grave surgical complications are infrequently observed. We describe an adult, nonpregnant, African woman with sigmoid colon perforation and fatal peritonitis due to geophagia. Geophagia is a rare cause of colonic perforation and peritonitis and a high degree of suspicion must be employed to identify this disorder.