Congenital tuberculosis

A 29 day old male infant presented with a history of fever, cough, increasing respiratory distress and abdominal distension from the 10th day of life. Examination revealed failure to thrive, marked tachypnea, pallor, hepatosplenomegaly and harsh vesicular breath sounds. Chest skiagram showed extensive broncho-pneumonic changes. As the infant did not respond to antibiotics, he was investigated for tuberculosis. The gastric aspirate smear showed plenty of acid fast bacilli (AFB) and culture showed M. tuberculosis growth. Endometrial biopsy of the mother showed tuberculous granuloma and acid fast bacilli and culture of the aspirate from endometrium grew M. tuberculosis. The need for endometrial biopsy of mothers of infants with congenital tuberculosis is highlighted.