ABDOMINAL TUBERCULOSIS
STILL THE GREAT MIMICKER
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2008.15.03.2829Keywords:
Mycobacterial infection in gastrointestinal tract, koch infection, Gastrointestinal tuberculosis,, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Abstract
Objectives: To study the different clinical presentations, operative and postoperative course of
abdominal tuberculosis. Design: Case series study. Setting: Surgical units, Bahawal Vicotria Hospital, Bahawalpur .
Period: May 01, 2005 to April 30, 2007. Patients & Method: This was a prospective type of case series study. A
selection criterion of patients was that all patients of either sex & age being diagnosed as case of abdominal
tuberculosis. The clinical record of the patient’s data, symptoms & signs, biopsy report, biochemical & radiological
report, treatment (surgery & chemotherapy) given and a follow-up. Results: Total 96 patients presented with abdominal
tuberculosis, 60(62.5%) were male & 36(37.5%) were female. Peritonitis was present in 48(50%) patients, intestinal
obstruction(acute & sub-acute) was present in 32(33.33%) patients, mass right iliac fossa was present in 14(14.58%)
patients and 2(2.08%) patient presented with mass in the epigastrium. 28(29.16%) patients has concurrent pulmonary
tuberculosis. Two patients expired so mortality rate was 2.08%. Conclusion: The control of TB has been a challenging
problem because the natural history of the disease and its varying pattern in which it manifests is in different groups.
