A rare tuberculosis form: congenital tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT

Congenital tuberculosis is defined as infection developing as a result of the encounter between the infant and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli during the intrauterine period or during normal birth. Although tuberculosis infection is very common all over the world congenital tuberculosis cases are rare and mortalities of 50% have been reported. Non-specific symptoms in congenital tuberculosis and difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in general, make it difficult to reach a final diagnosis. Cases of congenital tuberculosis are generally known clinically during the first postnatal month. This case is important as the three-month infant was presented with pneumonia symptoms and diagnosed as congenital tuberculosis after an attentive anamnesis which is unusual during three postnatal months. To our knowledge, this case is one of a few cases in the literature diagnosed as congenital tuberculosis in three months. Our case emphasizes that it is necessary to consider congenital tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary infections in infants, particularly in countries where the incidence of tuberculosis is high. For this reason, we believe that a successfully obtained anamnesis is the parameter which provides a valid diagnosis. Furthermore, early and speedy initiation of treatment in cases with a potential diagnosis of tuberculosis is a very important factor that affects prognosis.