A Challenging Surgical Decision in a Child With Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Abdominal Tuberculosis and a Literature Review

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease and one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Abdominal TB (ATB) can involve the peritoneum, lymph nodes, luminal structures, and solid organs, with a predominance of intestinal and peritoneal forms of the disease. Most pediatric cases may present with peritoneal and lymph node disease. This case reports a five-year-old girl who is medically and surgically free. She had ATB complicated with a bowel obstruction that resulted in an eventful outcome of fistula formation. The family gave a travel history to Egypt two months prior to the emergency first presentation. ATB is considered a severe and challenging infectious disease that affects several systems. It is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates, specifically in the pediatric population. This case discusses the importance of considering the possible complications of ATB in pediatrics to overcome unfavorable outcomes.