1. Atypical Pulmonary Tuberculosis as the First Manifestation of Advanced HIV Disease—Diagnostic Difficulties
- Author
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Aneta Kacprzak, Karina Oniszh, Regina Podlasin, Maria Marczak, Iwona Cielniak, Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopeć, Witold Tomkowski, and Monika Szturmowicz
- Subjects
tuberculosis ,human immunodeficiency virus ,acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ,chest imaging ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 - Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of morbidity, hospitalisations, and mortality in people living with HIV (PLWH). The lower CD4+ T-lymphocyte count in the course of HIV infection, the higher risk of active TB, and the higher odds for atypical clinical and radiologic TB presentation. These HIV-related alterations in TB presentation may cause diagnostic problems in patients not knowing they are infected with HIV. We report on a patient without any background medical conditions, who was referred to a hospital with a 4-month history of chest and feet pains, mild dry cough, fatigue, reduced appetite, and decreasing body weight. Chest X-ray revealed mediastinal lymphadenopathy, bilateral reticulonodular parenchymal opacities, and pleural effusion. A preliminary diagnosis of lymphoma, possibly with a superimposed infection was established. Further differential diagnostic process revealed pulmonary TB in the course of advanced HIV-1 disease, with a CD4+ T-lymphocyte count of 107 cells/mm3. The patient completed anti-tuberculous therapy and successfully continues on antiretroviral treatment. This case underlines the importance of screening for HIV in patients with newly diagnosed TB.
- Published
- 2022
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