A Pulmonary Tuberculosis Case Presented with Tonsillar Involvement.

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Tonsillar tuberculosis is an uncommon manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
• It often presents with non-specific symptoms like fever and dysphagia, potentially delaying diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of tonsillar tuberculosis secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis in an immunocompetent individual.
• To highlight the importance of considering tonsillar tuberculosis in differential diagnosis for persistent throat symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 26-year-old male presenting with fever, throat ache, and difficulty swallowing.
• Diagnostic workup included examination of tonsillar lesion smear and sputum analysis for Acid-Fast Bacilli.
• Clinical consultation with infectious diseases and head and neck surgery.

Main Results:

• Acid-Fast Bacilli were identified in both tonsillar smear and sputum, confirming co-existing tonsillar and pulmonary tuberculosis.
• The patient responded well to a 9-month course of antituberculous agents with symptom improvement and no adverse effects.

Conclusions:

• Tonsillar tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with prolonged fever and dysphagia, particularly in tuberculosis-prevalent regions.
• This diagnosis is possible even in immunocompetent individuals, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation beyond typical risk factors.