Congenital tuberculosis: a case report

Abstract

Congenital tuberculosis is an unusual and severe clinical pattern of tuberculosis presentation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Furthermore, it usually has a difficult treatment. We report a two-month-old male infant who presented with fever, dyspnea and a diffuse micronodular pattern at x-ray; mother with severe tuberculosis. Treatment with the triple drug regimen was initiated, but the child developed jaundice and an increase in liver enzymes on various occasions during treatment. A regimen specifically developed for cases of intolerance was initiated but there was no improvement in hyperthermia. Finally, the dose of INH and RMP was increased, the fever receded and the child was cured. This case remarks difficulties on diagnosis and therapeutic management about this important severe disease in public health, and alert for development of protocols that foresee these difficulties.