A misleading appearance of a common disease: tuberculosis with generalized lymphadenopathy-a case report

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Global Health
• Clinical Case Studies

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is prevalent in resource-limited settings, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
• Pediatric lymph node tuberculosis is common but typically presents as localized, not generalized, enlarged lymph nodes.
• Severe acute malnutrition can complicate the presentation of infectious diseases in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an atypical case of pediatric tuberculosis presenting with generalized lymphadenopathy.
• To emphasize the importance of recognizing unusual clinical manifestations of tuberculosis in children.
• To highlight the successful management of a complex pediatric TB case.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a two-year-old child with severe acute malnutrition.
• Clinical examination revealed painless, generalized, and excessively large lymph nodes without compressive symptoms or fistula.
• Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of lymph nodes was performed for diagnostic evaluation.

Main Results:

• Fine needle aspiration detected granulomatous lymphadenitis, strongly suggestive of tuberculosis.
• The patient presented with an atypical, generalized lymphadenopathy, differing from typical presentations.
• The diagnostic findings guided the initiation of appropriate treatment.

Conclusions:

• The child received prompt anti-tuberculosis therapy, resulting in a highly successful clinical outcome.
• Clinicians must consider atypical presentations of tuberculosis, including generalized lymphadenopathy, for timely diagnosis.
• Early recognition and treatment are crucial for managing pediatric tuberculosis effectively, especially in malnourished children.