Miliary Tuberculosis in a Two-Year-Old Child: A Case Report from a Low-Prevalence Region.

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death caused by a single infectious agent.

Objective: We report a case of miliary TB in a 2-year-old child who presented with a history of constipation, weight loss, marked abdominal distension with hepatosplenomegaly.

Case presentation: In children, TB often presents with a wide range of non-specific clinical and radiological manifestations, making diagnosis challenging, particularly in regions with low prevalence. We report the case of a two-year-old female with a history of constipation, weight loss, marked abdominal distension with hepatosplenomegaly, who was later diagnosed with miliary tuberculosis.

Conclusion: This case highlights an unusual presentation of miliary TB in a very young child, a demographic in which it is infrequently observed. Miliary TB remains a severe and potentially fatal condition, particularly when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. The diagnosis is usually made based on the clinical presentation, supported by a classic miliary pattern on chest X-ray.