title: Tuberculosis in a SARS outbreak.
abstract: Preoccupied with the diagnosis of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in a SARS outbreak, doctors tend to overlook other endemic diseases, such as tuberculosis. Incorrectly labeling a patient as SARS may result in serious consequences. Single isolation being not always possible, the patient may have to be isolated with a group of SARS patients. The following article reports how a young girl suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis was erroneously diagnosed as SARS in an outbreak. Isolated with other SARS patients, she was infected with the virus. The treatment of SARS and tuberculosis resulted in liver dysfunction. Fortunately, the patient recovered uneventfully. The importance of keeping an open mind in an outbreak is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Wong Tai Sin Hospital, Hong Kong, PROC. emmanuellewong@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Chak-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: King-Ying
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Tse Sam Grace
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Tak-Tai
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.forename: Yu-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wai-Keung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase