Pneumoperitoneum during treatment of abdominal tuberculosis in a Non-HIV patient: Natural progression or paradoxical worsening?

Abstract

Paradoxical reactions during tuberculosis (TB) treatment are well-described in the HIV seropositive population but less so in the HIV seronegative group. Abdominal TB rarely presents as spontaneous perforation; cases occurring during anti-TB therapy are even rarer. We describe the clinical progress of a case of an HIV-negative patient who developed acute peritonitis while on anti-TB treatment for peritoneal TB through a series of clinical, radiological and histological images. Visceral perforation can occur as a complication of TB treatment. A high index of suspicion with early surgical intervention is crucial in the management of such cases.

Keywords

• Abdominal tuberculosis
• paradoxical worsening
• peritoneal tuberculosis