Acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis in a child with pulmonary tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global cause of child mortality.
• Diagnosing TB in children is challenging due to non-specific symptoms.
• Neurological TB, including meningitis and tuberculoma, affects about 1% of patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case of a rare immunological manifestation of tuberculosis in a child.
• To highlight the importance of recognizing uncommon TB presentations for timely intervention.

Main Methods:

• Case report of an 11-year-old girl diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).
• Diagnostic workup included clinical evaluation and neuroimaging (MRI).
• Treatment involved anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) and high-dose systemic corticosteroids.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with symptoms mimicking ADEM, a rare immunological manifestation of TB.
• Complete recovery was achieved following a combined treatment regimen.
• This case underscores the diverse neurological presentations of TB.

Conclusions:

• Uncommon neurological manifestations of tuberculosis, such as ADEM, require prompt recognition.
• Integrated treatment of corticosteroids and ATT is effective for managing such cases.
• Understanding rare TB presentations is crucial for improving pediatric outcomes globally.