Pre-extensively drug-resistant congenital tuberculosis: Case report

Abstract

Tuberculosis in infants is a clinical case difficult to diagnose by regular testing which often yield negative results; additionally, the source of transmission is difficult to identify. This work presents the case of a one-month old nursing boy presenting irritability, tachypnea, fever, poor gain weight from birth, and hepatomegaly. Additionally, he had the maternal history of pre-extensively drug- resistant tuberculosis and tuberculoid granulomatosis reaction with positive auramine tincture for acid-alcohol resistant bacilli at histopathology of the placenta. With a suspected congenital tuberculosis, he was referred to the National Children’s Health Institute for diagnosis and treatment. The patient showed a favorable clinical evolution and no adverse reactions to treatment. The diagnosis of congenital tuberculosis must be considered in infants with suggestive clinical signs of the disease and such suspicion must be maintained with the presence of a maternal history of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.