Abdominal Tuberculosis: Understanding the Causes

Abdominal tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is not just limited to the lungs. It can affect the organs of the abdomen, such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, peritoneum, solid abdominal viscera, and lymph nodes. The disease spreads through contact with an infected person, ingestion of infected saliva or mucus, or even through the consumption of meat or milk that contains the bacterium.

Abdominal tuberculosis is often associated with other medical conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, HIV infection, and malignant diseases, among others. The symptoms of abdominal tuberculosis include pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, fever, bleeding from the GI tract, intestinal obstruction, weight loss, ascites, and abdominal distension.

Although GI tract bleeding is rare in tuberculosis patients, it can be life-threatening. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are critical in managing the disease. Diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis involves a combination of imaging techniques, microbiological tests, and histopathological examination. Treatment usually involves a combination of drugs that need to be taken for six to nine months.

Staff Writer