BE AWARE OF ABDOMINAL TUBERCULOSIS

Abdominal tuberculosis is often diagnosed in a late stage because symp toms are aspecific. Two patients with intestinal tuberculosis and tube rculous peritonitis respectively, both from endemic countries presente d with long-standing fever, abdominal pain and weight loss. Acid fast bacilli were present in aspirate and biopsy specimens obtained by colo noscopy and laparoscopy respectively; PCR was positive for M. tubercul osis complex and later M. tuberculosis was cultured. Both patients res ponded to antituberculous therapy. In one patient AIDS was diagnosed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.