A Case of Intestinal Tuberculosis Concurring with Endobronchial and Laryngeal Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

Although the incidence of tuberculosis has been reduced recently because of the advance of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, improvements of public health, and early diagnosis, it is still high in developing countries. Intestinal tuberculosis can occur at any age, but young adults and female are more affected. Early diagnosis of childhood intestinal tuberculosis is difficult, largely because of vague symptoms and nonspecific signs. Recently, tuberculosis of the larynx combined with pulmonary tuberculosis has become quite a rare disease since anti-tuberculous chemotherapy and preventive activities are prevalent. Laryngeal tuberculosis, while relatively well recognized in the adult population, is a rare disease in chidren and adolescents. There are few reports of intestinal tuberculosis combined with endobronchial and laryngeal tuberculosis in children. We have experienced a case of intestinal tuberculosis which concurred with endobronchial and laryngeal tuberculosis in an 18-year-old girl who presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, a brassy cough, and anemia, which was diagnosed by a colonoscopy and bronchoscopy with biopsy.