RESUMO
Experience gained in the management of 32 cases of abdominal tuberculosis in Kuwait is summarised. They were admitted to the Farwania Hospital Medical Department. The hospital serves a population of about 439,337 [101,965 Kuwaitis and 337,272 Expatriates] as per the 1985 census record of the Ministry of Civil Information. They presented over a 4 year-period from January 1986 till January 1990. Of the 32 cases, 10 had intestinal tuberculosis, 6 mesenteric-lymphnodal [nodular] tuberculosis, and 16 peritoneal tuberculosis. Fourteen of them were Kuwaitis and 18 were classified as expatriates. An association with pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 4 cases only [12.5%].The duration of hospitalisation ranged between 1-2 weeks in 37.5% of the cases, and 2-4 weeks in 43.8% of the cases. The yearly incidence of abdominal tuberculosis was found to be higher in Kuwaitis [3.43/100000 population, p< 0.05] than in expatriates[1.33/100000 population. p< 0.05]. In spite of its being a potentially lethal disease no mortality was documented