Unusual presentation of tuberculosis

Mycobacterial disease associated with aplastic anaemia

Haematological changes associated with infectious disease are relatively common but true aplastic anaemia secondary to infection is rare. We describe a patient wit disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection and who had a histologically proven remission of his aplastic anemia accompanying antimycobacterial therapy. We also review the literature on the haematological changes associated with mycobacterial infections and other infectious causes of aplastic anaemia.

Tuberculous peritonitis in Nigerian Igbos

An account is given of 30 Nigerian patients of the Igbo ethnic group whose biopsies showed tuberculous peritonitis. The maximum incidence occurred in the 20-39 year age group and the female: male ratio was 2:1. The commonest clinical findings were abdominal pain and swelling and ascites. An increase in the mean age was found in Igbos suffering from tuberculous peritonitis compared with those who had tuberculous peripheral lymphadenitis.

Tuberculous brain abscess. Case report

The authors describe a case of tuberculous cerebral abscess of the frontal lobe that developed 1 year after an episode of acute miliary tuberculosis. The development of such a lesion indicates a persistence of infection and an immunological breakdown which may partly have been due to protein malnutrition.