Respiratory Medicine Case Reports (Jan 2020)

Fever and an abnormal chest X-ray during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • David Ruttens,
  • Margaretha Van Kerrebroeck,
  • Jan Vandewalle,
  • Maarten Falter,
  • Marc Daenen,
  • Kristof Thevissen,
  • Mieke Wirix,
  • Michiel Thomeer

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31
p. 101167

Abstract

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, a 56-year-old man presented at our emergency department with fever and shortness of breath; Diffuse pulmonary nodular vascular spread lesions were found. Detailed history taking showed a four-week history of fever and night sweats. The man had been under treatment for 2 years with Adalimumab, a tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF) inhibitor, for ulcerative colitis. Before start, screening by tuberculin skin test was negative. Cultures en PCR on BAL and urine were positive for mycobacterium tuberculosis also ocular findings were present. The diagnosis of military tuberculosis was made.

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