Intestinal Tuberculosis, a Challenge in Clinical Practice: Case Report

Abstract

Introduction:Intestinal tuberculosis is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary presentation of the disease. Some groups of individuals are at greater risk of developing this pathology, and high suspicion must be maintained based on epidemiological risk factors associated with symptoms and complementary tests with a focus on early treatment. Goal: To report a case of intestinal tuberculosis and its diagnostic difficulty. Case description: This is a 62-year-old man, initially presenting with abdominal pain and weight loss, being diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus infection. He evolved with diarrhea and hematochezia, which led to a lower digestive endoscopy. Initial findings compatible with cytomegalovirus infection, however, without improvement after treatment and in the control exam, it showed a change in the histopathological characteristic favoring the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis. Conclusion:The heterogeneity of the clinical presentation requires a high degree of suspicion combined with epidemiological risk factors for early diagnosis and treatment.