Miliary Tuberculosis with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Deadly Combination

Abstract

A unique and deadly presentation of miliary tuberculosis is acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this case report, we present the case of a 22-year-old male patient who presented with a history of weight loss, appetite loss for eight months, and rapidly worsening dyspnea for 15 days, for which he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) of the thorax revealed bilateral miliary opacities. Routine blood tests revealed hyponatremia and leukocytosis. The patient was started on non-invasive ventilatory support, intravenous corticosteroids, and anti-tubercular therapy on clinical and-radiological suspicion of miliary tuberculosis. The patient was admitted for one month and started to show rapid recovery after initiating anti-tubercular and corticosteroid therapy.