[Atypical presentation of tuberculosis in the elderly: a case report of pleuropericarditis].
BACKGROUND
The incidence of tuberculosis is increasing, particularly in the elderly, and has various clinical presentations.


METHODS
We describe the case of a 78-year-old woman who presented tuberculous pleuropericarditis. This case is atypical, due to infection localisation, negativity of the tuberculin skin test, and mixed pleural effusion. Following antituberculosis antibiotic therapy and corticotherapy, the outcome was favorable.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to atypical and non-specific clinical presentation, diagnosis of tuberculosis may be particularly difficult in the elderly.
Asseray
N
N
Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier de Tourcoing, France.
Puisieux
F
F
Desurmont
I
I
Savage
C
C
Fauchais
A L
AL
Senneville
E
E
Dewailly
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019818:Clavulanic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D010996:Pleural Effusion; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015575:Roxithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D015575:Roxithromycin; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D000658:Amoxicillin