Intestinal tuberculosis is an infection of the intestine that occurs when bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosiswhich normally affects the lungs, reaches the intestine, resulting in symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever or bloating in the belly.
This infection is rare, being more common to occur in people who have very weakened immunity, as in the case of HIV infection or people who have had a transplant, for example.
The treatment of intestinal tuberculosis is carried out by an infectious disease specialist, using the same antibiotics indicated for pulmonary tuberculosis, such as isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol, for 6 to 9 months.
Symptoms of intestinal tuberculosis
The main causes of intestinal tuberculosis are:
- Persistent abdominal pain;
- Diarrhea alternating with constipation;
- Blood in the stool;
- Swelling or the presence of a palpable lump in the belly;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Low fever;
- Lack of appetite and weight loss;
- Paleness and night sweats;
- Excessive tiredness.
These symptoms are caused by wounds that the disease causes in the intestinal wall, which are very similar to those caused by Crohn’s disease or cancer, and therefore it can be difficult to differentiate these diseases.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is made by a general practitioner or gastroenterologist, through the assessment of symptoms, health history and history of tuberculosis, as well as its treatment.
In addition, the doctor may order blood tests, such as blood count, serum albumin and C-reactive protein, for example, as well as imaging tests such as an abdominal X-ray, ultrasound or computed tomography.
Another test that the doctor may request is a biopsy performed through colonoscopy or endoscopy, so that the mycobacteria in the intestine can be identified through laboratory tests, such as RT-PCR. Understand what the RT-PCR exam is.
Make an appointment with your nearest doctor using the following tool to investigate the possibility of intestinal tuberculosis:
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How is it transmitted
The infection caused by tuberculosis in the intestine can occur in different forms, the main ones being:
- Swallow phlegm contaminated with mycobacteria, in the case of active pulmonary tuberculosis;
- Spread of mycobacteria through the blood, which can reach the intestine;
- Spread of mycobacteria through infected lymph nodes;
- Ingestion of unpasteurized raw cow’s milk or dairy products contaminated with Mycobacterium bovis.
Intestinal tuberculosis is rare, but it can occur mainly in people with very weakened immunity, as happens in people with HIV or who use immunosuppressive medications, as in the case of transplant recipients, for example.
How the treatment is carried out
Intestinal tuberculosis is curable, and treatment is carried out in the same way as pulmonary tuberculosis, with the following antibiotic regimen, prescribed by the infectious disease specialist:
- Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamidum and Ethambutolin tablet form, for initial treatment for 2 months;
- Isoniazid and rifampicinfor 4 to 7 months, for maintenance treatment, which should begin shortly after the end of the initial treatment.
In people who do not start treatment immediately, the infection can reach the deepest layers of the intestine, reaching other organs in the abdomen and circulation, which can cause intestinal obstruction, hemorrhage and fistulas, which can even be life-threatening.
Furthermore, during the treatment period it is important to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and have a good diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and vegetables, to help the body fight the disease. Check out food tips to strengthen immunity.
