Intestinal Tuberculosis: Experience with Mode of Presentation and Epidemiological Profile at a Tertiary Care Centre in Eastern Bihar.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health problem and still considered as a social disease in India reflecting the standards of living in a community. It possesses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to practicing surgeon in resource-limited countries. Aim: The aim of the present study was to study different surgical features and epidemiological profile of intestinal TB. Materials and Methods: 100 diagnosed cases of intestinal TB were studied over a period of 3-year in the Department of General Surgery at Katihar Medical College with emphasis on mode of presentation and epidemiological profile. Result: 64% of the cases were in the age group of 21-40 years. The sex incidence revealed a female to male ratio of 1.171 showing a female preponderance particularly affecting those who were engaged in household work. Persons of low socio-economic status, particularly non-vegetarians were the common victims of this disease. 50% of the cases belonged to the Muslim community. The important symptoms were abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of weight, constipation, recurrent bowel upset, and distension of abdomen. The important signs were emaciated look, anemia localized, tenderness, abdominal lump, visible peristalsis, doughy feel of abdomen, distension and ascites and rigidity of the abdomen. The average duration of symptoms was 6-18 months at presentation. Conclusion: Intestinal TB has vague presentations as shown by this study with a predominant feature of abdominal pain. Good results can be obtained by adopting a multidisciplinary approach, health education, and awareness among people as this disease is very prevalent in this region.