Tuberculous peritonitis

Tuberculous is [T.B] remains one of the important infections wide especially in the developing countries and still on important cause for morbidity and mortality. to find out the role of diagnostic laparoscopy in the quick and definitive diagnosis of T.B. peritonitis and to differentiate it from a similar presentation of abdominal malignancies.A forty patients with proved tuberculous peritonitis have been reviewed retro and prospectively. Their age range was between 20 - 39 years, 62.5% were females, abdominal distension and pallor were a common clinical findings 92.5% and 90% respectively, and 42.5% of the patients have their complaints for 2-3 months, while history of pulmonary tuberculosis was present in 22.5% of the patients only. In 50% of the patients there were no important findings on chest X ray. Ascitis was positive in 82.5% of patients on abdominal sonography, while on diagnostic laparoscopy in 45% of patients the findings were ascites with peritoneal and bowel adhesions. in conclusion there are patients to be recommended to avoid missing T.B. peritonitis as a curable conclusion and avoid the great delays in the diagnosis

[Tuberculos pericarditis [about 220 cases]]

Between January 1977 and December 1989, 220 cases of tuberculosis pericarditis were diagnosed in the cardiology ward of the Medical School Ibn Rochd Hospital of Casablanca. They fell into three broad catergories: - acute pericarditis: 130 cases [59%] - sub-acute pericarditis: 40 cases [18%] - constrictive pericarditis: 50 cases [23%]. The average of the patients was 30 years, a majority being male [65%]. Forty-four cases of acute pericarditis were admitted with a tamponade. The cases of sub-acute pericarditis were distinguished by respiratory difficulties [95%] and signs of constriction [95%]. The cases of constrictive pericarditis were all characterized by the existence of Pick's syndrome [100%]. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was certain in 44 cases [20%], and was made with strong basis for assumption in the remaining 80%. We regret the 18 deaths that resulted during this study. Forty- three patients were seen again after an average delay of 47 months; development in 32 cases judged to be good, and stable in 7 other cases. Four later deaths were also recorded