Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana-505001, India
*Correspondence author: Dr. Ch. Devika Rani, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana-505001, Email ID: drdevikarani@ymail.com
Online published on 31 May, 2016.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an important communicable disease worldwide. The clinical presentation of abdominal TB often mimics various gastrointestinal disorders and may delay accurate diagnosis.
A 3 -year retrospective study was undertaken to investigate the clinical manifestations and treatment responses of abdominal TB.
Out of 130 patients attending our hospital between January 2006 and December 2008, with clinical doubt of abdominal tuberculosis, 36 patients had confirmed abdominal tuberculosis. Their clinico-radiological and histopathological profiles, side effects of anti-tuberculous drugs, and the outcome of the treatment were analyzed.
Weight loss, Anorexia, abdominal pain, and ascites were the most common symptoms. Anemia and under- nutrition, abdominal tenderness, and hepato/splenomegaly were the most common findings. Ultrasonography revealed abdominal lymphadenopathy, ascites, and mass lesions in 16, 12, and 5 patients, respectively. An ascitic fluid study done in 12 patients showed high adenosine deaminase in all, and positive acid fast bacilli in one case. Treatment success was achieved in 26 patients with anti-tuberculous drugs.
With excellent clinical examination and suitable investigations definitive diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis can be reached in a significant number of patients.
Abdominal tuberculosis, Clinical features, Diagnosis
