title: Childhood tuberculosis presenting with haemophagocytic syndrome.
abstract: Haemophagocytic syndrome is a life threatening complication of systemic infection resulting from an exaggerated immune response to a triggering agent. Prompt recognition and treatment of this disorder can abrogate otherwise high fatality associated with this disorder. A 2 year old girl presented with acute enteritis, developed prolonged fever and organomegaly complicated by multi-organ failure. She fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis including bone marrow evidence of haemophagocytosis. In addition she had serological evidence of tubercular infection as well as a positive family history of tuberculosis. She responded rapidly to immunosuppressive therapy and anti-tubercular therapy. Our case illustrates the association of haemophagocytic syndrome with tuberculosis as well as the favourable response obtained with prompt diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Haematologist, Command Hospital, Udhampur, J&K India.
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aggarwal