Disseminated tuberculosis in pregnancy unknown to doctors in Western Europe case presentation: 'part of the routine study in infertility'

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Sep 12:2012:bcr2012006227. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006227.

Abstract

Tuberculosis in pregnancy is possibly increasing in Western Europe due to a higher incidence in immigrant women from endemic regions. Common in recent immigrants. Diagnosis during pregnancy is delayed because the disease is more frequently extra-pulmonary with few symptoms and western doctors are no longer familiar with signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. We report the case of a 28-year-old woman presenting in the 13th week of pregnancy with vaginal bleeding, respiratory symptoms including persistent coughing and fever since 1 month. Diagnosis was delayed because of doubts on taking x-rays during pregnancy, and only 6 days after admission chest x-ray and blood-cultures led to diagnose miliary tuberculosis. Despite tuberculostatic medication expulsion of an infected fetus and placenta occurred. Histological examination of the placenta confirmed tuberculosis in the placental tissue.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / pathology
  • Adult
  • Belgium
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Fallopian Tube Diseases / diagnosis
  • Fallopian Tube Diseases / pathology
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro
  • Fetus / pathology
  • Ghana / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / diagnosis
  • Infertility, Female / pathology
  • Placenta / pathology
  • Placenta Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Placenta Diseases / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / pathology
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / pathology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / pathology
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal