Intest Res.  2011 Apr;9(1):12-18. 10.5217/ir.2011.9.1.12.

Clinical Features of Intestinal Tuberculosis in Recent Ten Years (2001-2010)

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yousunk69@korea.com
  • 2Health Promotion Center, Ajou Hospital, Ajou University College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) evades early diagnosis due to non-specific clinical manifestations and difficulties in confirming the disease process. In the current study, we determined the diagnostic appearance and clinical manifestations of ITB in recent 10 years according to diagnostic guidelines, as proposed by the IBD Study Group of Korean Association for the Study of the Intestinal Diseases (KASID).
METHODS
Fifty-six patients with ITB who were diagnosed at Seoul Paik Hospital between January 2001 and August 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis of ITB was defined as definite or probable in accordance with the diagnostic guidelines and the clinical features were analyzed in comparison with previous studies involving ITB in Korea.
RESULTS
The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 45+/-15 years (range, 17-71 years). Definite and probable diagnoses were obtained in 29% and 71% of the patients, respectively. Twenty-three percent of the patients had synchronous active pulmonary TB and 14% of the patients had other forms of abdominal TB, such as TB mesenteric lymphadenitis or peritonitis. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (43%), followed by diarrhea (30%), weight loss (14%). Twenty-seven percent of the patients (15 cases) were asymptomatic and diagnosed on comprehensive health care or post-operative surveillance. Only 2 patients (3.6%) underwent surgery for complications, such as intestinal obstruction and perforation.
CONCLUSIONS
ITB is still prevalent in Korea; however, in the recent 10 years the symptoms of ITB have been milder than previously reported. In addition, the complication rates of ITB were remarkably decreased, suggesting that early diagnosis of ITB was increased.

Keyword

Gastrointestinal Tuberculosis; Symptoms; Early Diagnosis; Comprehensive Health Care

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Comprehensive Health Care
Diarrhea
Early Diagnosis
Humans
Intestinal Diseases
Intestinal Obstruction
Mesenteric Lymphadenitis
Peritonitis
Retrospective Studies
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal
Weight Loss
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