Clinical presentations, diagnosis and pattern of intestinal tuberculosis, our experience, Nishtar Hospital Multan, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To discuss clinical presentations, diagnosis and pattern of intestinal tuberculosis of the patients presenting in surgical department. Design. Retrospective study. Place and duration of study. Nishtar Hospital Multan, Pakistan during the period of January 2002 to August 2004. Patients and methods. 109 diagnosed cases of intestinal tuberculosis were included in this study. Patients with intercurrent illness and patients proved to have other diagnosis after full work up were excluded from the study. A detailed history and full physical examination of all patients was recorded. Later on various investigations, operative findings were also noted. Results. The ages of patients were in range of 12-54 years. Male to female ratio was approximately 1:2. Clinical presentation was quite variable ranging from abdominal pain present in 100 patients (91.74%) to weight loss noted in 54 patients (49.54%). Endoscopic biopsy and PCR analysis were most useful in diagnosing intestinal tuberculosis in elective ca ses. Strictures of the small bowel were commonest pattern noted. Past history of pulmonary tuberculosis was present in 8 patients (7.33%) while 18 patients (16.51%) had previous history of intestinal tuberculosis. 35 patients (32.11%) had positive family history of tuberculosis. 18.34% of the patients had secondary tuberculosis. Conclusion. Intestinal tuberculosis is a common disease in third decade in the developing countries. Females are more affected than males. Primary tuberculosis is more common than secondary tuberculosis. Intestinal tuberculosis may present with a variety of abdominal symptoms and signs. Endoscopy and PCR analysis can be considered as reliable investigation in elective cases. Strictures, mass abdomen and intestinal perforation are the most common pattern observed.