Case reports in gastrointestinal medicine
Cure8 research brief
Why This Matters
This report shows intestinal tuberculosis can present like inflammatory bowel disease with lower GI bleeding, leading to diagnostic delay; correct identification allowed targeted anti-TB and HIV therapy and clinical improvement.
Who Should Pay Attention
Clinicians evaluating suspected IBD or unexplained lower GI bleeding, infectious disease specialists, and adult patients who are immunocompromised or from TB-endemic areas.
Study Snapshot
Story typeResearch paper
Evidence typeResearch paper
Source depthJournal abstract
What To Know
A woman in her sixties with newly diagnosed advanced HIV had multifocal small- and large-bowel disease including ileocaecal and rectoanal involvement. Initial endoscopy was nondiagnostic; repeat colonoscopic biopsy showed caseating granulomas and acid-fast bacilli, confirming intestinal TB.
The patient improved after antituberculous therapy and later antiretroviral treatment. Because intestinal TB can resemble Crohn's disease on imaging and endoscopy, clinicians often integrate clinical history, radiology, endoscopy, and specific histopathology (including acid-fast stains) to distinguish them.
That diagnostic clarification was central to this case and to choosing appropriate medical therapy.
Keep In Mind
This is a single case report (abstract-level content). It illustrates a diagnostic pitfall but does not provide data on frequency or comparative outcomes. intestinal TB is uncommon in many settings and requires specific microbiologic/histologic confirmation.
Source Details
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
Research paper
Evidence type derived from source or registry metadata.
PublicationCase reports in gastrointestinal medicine
AuthorsLavender Otom, Priyanka Panwar, Gerald Odong +4 more
InstitutionDepartment of Internal Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Study typeJournal article
Indexed viaPubMed
Source typeResearch paper
PublishedJul 23, 2026, 12:00 AM
Content availableJournal abstract
Conflict statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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