A ten-year retrospective study on the clinical features and outcomes of Pediatric Intestinal Tuberculosis admitted in UP-Philippine General Hospital

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To describe the clinical, biochemical, microbiologic, radiologic and histological features and outcome of intestinal TB.@*Methods@#Medical records of patients diagnosed with intestinal TB were reviewed. Cases were considered bacteriologically-confirmed if intestinal tissue was positive on smear culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and clinically-diagnosed if with clinical, histologic, and radiologic evidence of extra-pulmonary TB.@*Results@#Fifteen patients [Mean (SD) age 13 (4) years; 53% females] were included. One was bacteriologically-confirmed; and fourteen were clinically-diagnosed. Fever (87%) and abdominal pain (73%) were commonly seen. Seven (47%) had anemia, 5 (33%) leukocytosis and 10 (71%) hypoalbuminemia. Eleven (73%) were positive on smear or TB PCR of various specimens. Nine of 10 (90%) patients with an abdominal CT scan had thickening of bowel loops. Three with intestinal biopsy demonstrated caseation granuloma. Fourteen patients were given quadruple anti-TB medications. Six had surgery, 8 had no disease-related complications, 4 died of sepsis and 3 were lost to follow up.@*Conclusion@#Intestinal TB presents with non-specific clinical and laboratory features. Radiologic findings may provide a clue to the diagnosis. Histologic confirmation in intestinal tissue was only seen in a few cases. The prognosis was favorable for patients who completed the anti-TB treatment.