NEW YORK, Apr 26 (Reuters Health) - Some diabetics and others with weakened
immune systems may do well to steer clear of chitterlings, a dish consisting of
boiled pig intestines that is served up as traditional holiday fare in the
Southern US.
A 12-year-old boy with poorly controlled diabetes became seriously ill after
eating the food in three separate Christmas dinners, according to a report in
the April 27th issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
The child was hospitalized with enteritis necroticans, a potentially
life-threatening intestinal infection that is rare in America and causes severe
stomach pain, vomiting of blood and low blood pressure. The boy eventually had
to have surgery to restore his intestinal function, according to Dr. Toni M.
Petrillo, of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in Egleston and colleagues. The
culprit turned out to be a chitterlings-contaminating bacterium known as
Clostridium perfringens type C, which produces a toxin that is lethal to tissue
in the digestive tract.
More common in developing countries, enteritis necroticans can occur in
children who eat large amounts of pork or in those who consume large meals after
a period of starvation. Other factors that can contribute to the illness are
protein malnutrition, and the consumption of sweet potatoes, which can interfere
with the breakdown of the bacterial toxin in the intestines.
In this case, Petrillo told Reuters Health, the boy was vulnerable to
infection from the chitterlings because he had poorly controlled type 1
diabetes. This type of diabetes usually occurs in childhood and requires daily
injections of insulin in order to control blood sugar. Diabetic patients can
have protein malnutrition and have a reduction in motility of the intestines, a
factor that can allow the bacteria to take hold and grow.
However, Petrillo added, even diabetics who keep their blood sugar in check
are more prone to infections, as are infants and anyone with an immune-related
chronic illness.
Petrillo advised taking care in cleaning chitterlings, being sure not to
contaminate foods that will be served raw, such as salads or infant food. Even
cooking the chitterlings, however, may not rid them of bacteria, he said.
According to Petrillo, other foods the immunocompromised should avoid
include raw oysters and eggs, undercooked hamburger, unpasteurized milk and
juice, and bean sprouts.
