Tuberculous pleural effusion – relapse or re-infection? Follow up of a case report and review of the literature

Conclusion Abdominal TB should be suspected in patients with fever, abdominal pain and ascites. Sputum induction (in addition to pleural fluid) for acid-fast bacilli and culture is a recommended procedure in all patients with TB pleurisy. This condition carries good prognosis, if promptly diagnosed and treated. A reasonable management strategy for pleural TB would be to initiate a four-drug regimen and perform a therapeutic thoracocentesis in patients with large, symptomatic effusions. Prolonged follow-up is essential in cases of pleural effusion, as in the presented case.
Source: Egyptian Journal of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research