Tuberculosis in children presenting with chylothorax - Report of two cases and review of the literature

One third of the world's population is estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is endemic in many sub-Saharan African counties. The burden is further made worse by the HIV scourge. The number of children with TB and its attendant complications, is equally on the rise. TB can mimic many diseases ranging from infections to malignancies. Among pleuro-pulmonary TB complications, exudative effusion is more common while chylothorax is rare and thus easily missed especially if not the classical milky appearance. We present two children from a TB endemic region, with microbiologically-confirmed TB presenting with chylothoraces that were initially misdiagnosed as pleural empyema. Tuberculosis in children presenting as chylothorax is uncommon. These cases are instructive as they bring to the fore the importance of a full investigation of pleural effusions in children, to ensure a correct diagnosis and prompt effective management.