Abdominal tuberculosis in Ecuador, a problem that is still not solved

• Main Authors: Christian L. Rojas, Evelyn Carolina Polanco, Maria Cecilia Vivar, William G. Aguayo, Gabriel A. Molina, Bernardo M. Gutierrez, Maria M. Cobo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-08-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases
• Subjects: Laparoscopy; Tuberculosis; Intestinal TB
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240557942030036X

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in the gastrointestinal tract or peritoneum is an uncommon condition in clinical practice. Its rarity, combined with its nonspecific presentations, makes this kind of extrapulmonary tuberculosis difficult to diagnose as it can mimic other inflammatory or malignant conditions. Delays in treatment and frequent misdiagnosis can lead to hazardous complications. In countries like Ecuador where the disease is endemic, TB should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patients who present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms. In these scenarios, laparoscopy can be an invaluable tool when used with sufficiently high clinical awareness and adequate training. Case presentation: We present the case of a 37-year-old female patient from Ecuador with a 1-year history of abdominal pain, nausea, intermittent vomits, night sweats, and weight loss. After clinical evaluation and a laparoscopic intervention, abdominal TB was detected and promptly treated. Antituberculosis chemotherapy was initiated, and the patient successfully recovered. Conclusions: High clinical awareness is imperative when approaching abdominal TB due to its wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and its rarity. Early detection and prompt treatment are critical to minimize the possibility of hazardous complications.