Splenic abscess due to chronic melioidosis in a patient previously misdiagnosed as tuberculosis.
Melioidosis is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. Sporadic cases have been reported from many parts of the world where it has an epidemic potential with high-rate fatality cases. In non-endemic areas, melioidosis may be misdiagnosed with common diseases and this may prove fatal. Sporadic cases of melioidosis are mistaken for tuberculosis in India. We report a case of splenic abscess due to chronic melioidosis who was earlier misdiagnosed as tuberculosis and underwent anti-tuberculosis therapy. Following treatment of melioidosis his symptoms subsided. This case is reported because of the rarity of the disease and to highlight the importance of looking for melioidosis in patients with splenic abscess even in non-endemic areas.
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Sojan George
SG
Kunnathuparambil
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Shanid Abdul
SA
Sathar
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Devang Chandrakanth
DC
Tank
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Srijaya
S
Sreesh
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Madhav
M
Mukunda
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Premaletha
P
Narayanan
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Kattoor Ramakrishnan
KR
Vinayakumar
Burkholderia pseudomallei; Splenic abscess; melioidosis