Introduction:

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that can be prevented and cured, but it is still associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Disseminated tuberculosis, although rare, can occur in individuals with underlying pathologies that affect the immune system. Currently, there are limited reports on disseminated tuberculosis in individuals with congenital disorders.

Clinical case:

We present a case of a patient with a history of β thalassemia who was admitted to the emergency department with symptoms of abdominal pain and constitutional symptoms. The final diagnosis was disseminated tuberculosis. This case is of particular interest due to its atypical presentation, the initial suspicion of malignancy, and the extensive involvement of the disease despite the patient’s absence of immunosuppression history.

Conclusions:

Disseminated tuberculosis in immunocompetent patients is a rare presentation associated with poor outcomes. The history of β thalassemia may be a risk factor to consider based on the metabolic pathways involved in the pathophysiology of both diseases.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English | Spanish     · English ( pdf )