You Have Gut TB Kidding Me

Tuberculosis is a disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide every year.1 Most cases present as pulmonary tuberculosis, though there are rare reports of abdominal tuberculosis. These presentations make up only 1–3% of all tuberculosis cases worldwide.1 Symptoms are often vague, presenting as abdominal pain, discomfort, or weight changes.2 These symptoms can be misdiagnosed for other more common gastrointestinal disorders. Unfortunately, misdiagnosis or a prolongation in diagnosis can lead to worsened patient outcome due to delay of initiation of anti-tubercular therapy.3 It is therefore imperative that providers understand the spectrum of symptoms associated with this illness as well as having a high clinical suspicion for patients at risk. Incorporating this knowledge and using a thorough diagnostic work up to confirm this disease is crucial, as delay of care can lead to poor patient prognosis or death.3