title: Tuberculous peritonitis: a review of thirty-five cases.
abstract: The clinical course of 35 patients with tuberculous peritonitis notified in Kandy (Sri Lanka) over a 6-year period has been reviewed. The maximum incidence occurred in the age group 21 to 40 years and the female/male ratio was 3:2. Clinical features were non-specific and the main presenting features were fever (68.5%), abdominal pain (65.7%), abdominal distension (54.2%), abdominal mass (54.2%) and ascites (45.7%). The symptoms were of insidious onset and 85% had symptoms for more than one month. Chest X-ray revealed abnormality suggestive of tuberculosis in 47%. Intra-abdominal tuberculosis was suspected in 43% of 26 patients before laparotomy. Four of the 32 patients given anti-tuberculous drugs died. Overall mortality was 20%.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D011859:Radiography