Miliary tuberculosis

Abstract

Seventy-four cases of miliary tuberculosis were studied retrospectively. Most common symptoms and findings were fever (97.3%), elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (67.6%), and nodular shadows in the chest X-ray films (98.6%). The other findings were enlarged mediastinal lymph node (17.6%), lung cavities (23.0%), consolidation (35.1%), and pleural effusion (27.0%). Sputum cultures and urine cultures were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 76.8% and 58.6% respectively. Biopsies were positive for bone marrow aspiration (61.5%), lymph node biopsies (83.3%), liver biopsies (100%), and lung biopsies (100%). Though antituberculosis therapy was successful in most of the patients, seven patients died of miliary tuberculosis, of whom four developed adult respiratory distress syndrome.