Necrotizing duodenitis caused by Clostridium perfringens type A in a Japanese young man.

A 21-year-old Japanese man with a history of marked body weight loss over a short period of time died of necrotizing duodenitis caused by Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type A. C. perfringens type A is considered to usually cause self-limiting gastroenteritis. Necrotizing enteritis sometimes occurs due to C. perfringens in developing countries; however, it is primarily caused by the type C strain and its site of onset is typically the jejunum or ileum. This is a rare case of necrotizing duodenitis caused by C. perfringens type A in a Japanese young man. Physicians need to be more aware of this emerging fatal disease in developed countries.