title: [Abdominal Tuberculosis in children and adolescents. A diagnostic challenge].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present our experience with abdominal tuberculosis in children and adolescents treated in our hospital from 2003 - 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a retrospective study. We have collected clinical records of inpatients <20 years old who were admitted at Hipolito Unanue Hospital from January 2003 to July 2014, with diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the overall 30 patients, 16 (53.33%) were female and 14 (46.67%) were male. The mean age of all patients was 16.5 years. The most common clinical features were abdominal pain in 29 (96.67%), fever in 26 (86.67%), ascites in 23 (76.67%) and loss of weight in 21 (70%). 63.33% of the patients were eutrophics, 13.34% were overweight or obese and only 23.33% suffered of malnutrition. TB contact was present in 10 (33.33%). Positive tuberculin skin tests were seen in 10%. Extra-abdominal tuberculosis was found in 22 patients (63.32%). 12 cases had coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis and 4 cases had pleural effusion. 12 patients (40%) had tuberculous peritonitis; 12 patients (40%) had intestinal tuberculosis and peritoneal tuberculosis and 4 patients (13.33%) had intestinal tuberculosis. Bacteriological confirmation of tuberculosis was achieved in 10 cases (33.33%). Antituberculous therapy for 6 months was effective in 29 cases. One patient died who multifocal tuberculosis with HIV had associated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal tuberculosis is seen in 4.37% of children affected with tuberculosis, of which over 63% will have extra abdominal manifestations. Abdominal tuberculosis should be considered in patients with abdominal pain, fever, weight loss and abnormal chest radiography. Imaging can be useful for early diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hipólito Unanue. Lima, Perú.
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reto Valiente
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hipólito Unanue. Lima, Perú.
authors.forename: Catherina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pichilingue Reto
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hipólito Unanue. Lima, Perú.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pichilingue Prieto
authors.affiliation: Hospital Hipólito Unanue. Lima, Perú.
authors.forename: Ketty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dolores Cerna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010568:Peru; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014386:Tuberculosis, Hepatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents