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Published on: September 5, 2017
A Challenging Case of the Forgotten Abdominal Tuberculosis in the Developed World
Sara Henen1, Christine Denton1, Aaron Miller2,3
1From the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
Insights
Differentiating abdominal tuberculosis (TB) from Crohn's disease (CD) is crucial. Early suspicion and empirical treatment for TB in children can prevent severe complications from misdiagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Differentiating abdominal tuberculosis (TB) from Crohn's disease (CD) is clinically challenging but vital.
- Misdiagnosis can lead to catastrophic disseminated miliary TB due to inappropriate immunosuppressive therapy.
Observation:
- A 5-year-old male presented with failure to thrive, ascites, and diarrhea, mimicking CD.
- Subtle clinical, endoscopic, and histologic features were key in diagnosis.
Findings:
- Diagnostic hallmarks like caseating necrosis, positive acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear/culture, and necrotic lymph nodes are often absent.
- Vigilance in screening pediatric patients with elusive symptoms is essential.
Implications:
- Suspect TB in pediatric patients with unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Empirical antituberculous treatment may be necessary for diagnosis when definitive evidence is scarce.
Abstract:
Differentiating abdominal tuberculosis (TB) from Crohn's disease (CD) despite the rarity of the condition remains vital to avoid catastrophic consequences of disseminated miliary TB as a result of mistakenly starting an immunosuppressive medication. We highlight a challenging pediatric abdominal TB case of a 5-year-old male that presented with failure to thrive, ascites, and diarrhea. Our case aims to shed light on a forgotten disease in our developed world by highlighting subtle clinical, endoscopic, and histologic features. Findings of caseating necrosis on biopsy, positive smear for acid-fast bacillus (AFB), AFB culture, and necrotic lymph node on imaging are diagnostic of TB but are rarely present. Clinicians should be vigilant in screening pediatric patients with elusive symptoms, history, and exam. TB should be suspected, and one should not shy away from empirical antituberculous treatment as it could be the only way of establishing the diagnosis.
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