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Bronchoesophageal fistula of tuberculous origin in a child
R Bhatia1, D K Mitra, S Mukherjee
1Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Insights
Bronchoesophageal fistulas (BEF) are rare in children, often congenital or acquired. This case highlights a rare acquired BEF of tuberculous origin, presenting with sudden swallowing difficulty and choking.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Bronchoesophageal fistulas (BEF) are rare congenital or acquired conditions in children.
- While bronchial perforation from tuberculosis is known, bronchoesophageal perforation leading to a fistula is exceptionally rare.
- Only four previous case reports document pediatric BEF of tuberculous origin.
Observation:
- A child presented with sudden onset dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and a choking sensation.
- This clinical presentation suggested an acquired bronchoesophageal fistula.
Findings:
- The patient's symptoms were attributed to an acquired bronchoesophageal fistula.
- The etiology of this rare fistula was determined to be tuberculosis.
- This case adds to the limited literature on tuberculous BEF in pediatric populations.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering tuberculosis as a cause of acquired bronchoesophageal fistulas in children.
- Emphasizes the need for prompt diagnosis and management of BEF to prevent complications.
- Contributes to understanding the rare manifestations of pediatric tuberculosis.
Abstract:
Bronchoesophageal fistulas (BEF) are uncommon in children, the etiology being congenital or acquired. Acquired bronchial perforation of tuberculous origin is common in children with pulmonary tuberculosis but bronchoesophageal perforation secondary to tuberculosis and leading to a fistulous tract formation is rare. To date, there have only been 4 case reports of BEF of tuberculous origin in children. We present yet another case of an acquired BEF of tuberculous origin in a child who presented with a sudden onset of dysphagia and choking sensation.