Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) includes involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, lymph nodes, and/or solid organs. Abdominal Tuberculosis is a form of tuberculosis which affects the gastrointestinal system of the body. Specifically, it affects the peritoneum, the abdominal lymph nodes, and in some rare cases the kidney, liver, and the pancreas.
Common symptoms of abdominal tuberculosis are:
Risk factors for development of abdominal TB include cirrhosis, HIV infection, diabetes mellitus, underlying malignancy, treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents, and use of peritoneal dialysis.
The treatment of Abdominal Tuberculosis is primarily with Anti-TB drugs, known as AKT. patients are required to be on treatment for 6-9 months. surgery is limited to those patients who present with complications of TB like perforations, obstruction or Intestinal strictures