Abdominal tuberculosis: Clinical profile and outcome

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a prevalent communicable disease in India.
• Abdominal TB, a form of extrapulmonary TB, is frequently misdiagnosed due to non-specific symptoms and similarity to other gastrointestinal conditions.
• Diagnostic challenges arise from vague clinical presentations and non-specific radiological findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of abdominal tuberculosis.
• To highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with abdominal TB.
• To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records from a prospectively maintained database.
• Inclusion of 317 patients diagnosed with abdominal TB between August 2015 and December 2020.
• Analysis of patient demographics, site of involvement, treatment duration, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study included 317 patients, with 52.7% males, median age 45 years.
• Luminal involvement (49.5%) was most common, followed by peritoneal (19.8%) and mixed (13.2%).
• Complete response was observed in 82.3% of patients, with a median treatment duration of 28 weeks. Drug-induced liver injury occurred in 9.5%.

Conclusions:

• Abdominal TB presents diagnostic challenges due to non-specific symptoms and test limitations.
• A high index of suspicion is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
• Most cases respond well to medical management, with surgery indicated for a small fraction if diagnosed early.