Disseminated extrapulmonary tuberculosis with abdominal and meningeal involvement in a pediatric patient: case report

Abstract

Abdominal tuberculosis primarily affects the terminal ileum, cecum, and lymphoid-rich areas, manifesting with chronic abdominal pain, weight loss, persistent fever, exudative ascites, and altered bowel habits. The case of an adolescent with a one-month history of abdominal pain accompanied by joint pain, decreased appetite, fainting, weakness, and weight loss was presented. The patient was admitted to the operating room with a suspected acute abdomen, and surgical findings led to a suspicion of intra-abdominal tuberculosis, confirmed by GeneXpert and pathology results. She subsequently presented with clinical signs of meningeal tuberculosis, confirmed by laboratory testing. Peritoneal tuberculosis is uncommon in the pediatric population; Clinical manifestations are often chronic and unclear, leading to confusion with other abdominal pathologies. A high index of suspicion is crucial for ordering the necessary tests to reach a diagnosis and initiate timely treatment.