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[Pediatric tuberculous peritonitis. Case report]
Daniela Arriagada1, Megan Neumann2, Alejandro Donoso1
1Unidad de Paciente Crítico Pediátrico, Hospital Clínico Dra, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Tuberculous peritonitis is rare in children, often presenting with vague symptoms like abdominal pain and fever. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe outcomes in pediatric tuberculosis cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Tuberculous peritonitis is a rare extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis, particularly in infants.
- Nonspecific symptoms such as ascites, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss often delay diagnosis.
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment increase morbidity and mortality in pediatric tuberculosis.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old patient presented with ascites and fever, without prior disease or pulmonary tuberculosis.
- Laparoscopy revealed multiple peritoneal nodules suggestive of tuberculous peritonitis.
- Diagnosis was confirmed through culture and molecular testing.
Findings:
- The patient received antituberculosis treatment.
- The patient recovered satisfactorily after completing treatment.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering tuberculous peritonitis in pediatric patients with unexplained abdominal symptoms.
- Emphasizes the need for prompt diagnostic workup, including laparoscopy and microbiological confirmation.
- Successful treatment outcomes underscore the efficacy of timely antituberculosis therapy in pediatric cases.
Abstract:
Tuberculous peritonitis is an uncommon entity in the infant population. It is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and represents a very low percentage of all cases of tuberculosis. Its symptoms are nonspecific and usually manifesting with ascites, abdominal pain, fever and low weight. The delay in its diagnosis and treatment, originated by its form of presentation, can cause an increase in its morbidity and mortality. We report the case of a 14-year-old patient without concomitant disease or pulmonary tuberculosis, who presented with ascites and fever. Laparoscopy showed multiple nodules in the abdominal cavity compatible with peritoneal tuberculosis, which was subsequently confirmed by culture and molecular test. The patient completed her antituberculosis treatment recovering satisfactorily.
