Rare Intestinal Tuberculosis and Small Bowel Obstruction Patient Successfully Treated in Pune Hospital
Pune, 12th June 2023: In a significant medical achievement, a team led by Dr. Samrat Shah, an Internal Medicine Expert at Apollo Spectra Pune, has successfully treated a 37-year-old man suffering from a rare case of Intestinal Tuberculosis. The patient, who was experiencing Small Bowel Obstruction, has now been given a second chance at life thanks to the expert care he received.
While Tuberculosis (TB) is commonly associated with lung infections, it can also affect the intestines, leading to a range of symptoms. The patient, who preferred to be identified as Anil Gupte, had been experiencing prolonged cough, frequent fatigue, and a persistent fever for the past ten days. Despite initial treatment, his fever did not subside, prompting further investigation by the medical team at Apollo Spectra Hospital.
After ruling out other potential causes such as malaria, typhoid, and dengue through comprehensive tests, including autoimmune disease screening and abdominal sonography, the patient underwent colonoscopy and endoscopy. These procedures revealed the presence of ulcers in both the large and small bowels, which initially resembled symptoms of a condition known as Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. However, a subsequent biopsy did not confirm this diagnosis, leading to further investigation.
The patient was then tested for tuberculosis, and the results came back positive for intestinal TB, a rare condition where TB affects the intestines. Dr. Samrat Shah explained, “The patient presented with a persistent high fever of 103 degrees, which did not respond to medication. Further examination revealed the presence of ulcers in the intestines, characteristic of intestinal tuberculosis. Immediate treatment was initiated, and the patient is now recovering well, with the fever subsiding.”
Dr. Shah further emphasized that while TB commonly affects the large intestine, the presence of ulcers in the small intestine is rare. In Anil Gupte’s case, 75% of the ulcers were found in the small intestine, leading to inflammation. If left undiagnosed and untreated, intestinal tuberculosis can be life-threatening. There are three types of intestinal tuberculosis: ulcerative tuberculosis, hypertrophic tuberculosis, and ulcerative hypertrophy. Ulcerative tuberculosis, which involves ulcer formation in the intestines, is the most common type, observed in 60% of patients. Hypertrophic tuberculosis, characterized by thickening and hardening of the intestines, affects 10% of patients. Ulcerative hypertrophy, where both ulcers and obstruction develop in the intestines, is found in 30% of cases. Ulcerative intestinal tuberculosis is usually a secondary condition to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Symptoms of intestinal tuberculosis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever, weakness, weight loss, and abdominal cramps. Dr. Shah advises individuals experiencing these symptoms to consult a doctor promptly for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
