Tuberculous Peritonitis in a Peritoneal Dialysis Paediatric Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is known to cause infection primarily in the lungs, which may spread to other parts of the body causing extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Few studies in the literature identify M. tuberculosis as a cause of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis among paediatric patients who have no history of pulmonary tuberculosis. PD is the most used renal replacement therapy for paediatric patients with end-stage renal disease. However, despite continuous improvements in the PD connecting system, peritonitis remains the Achilles’ heel of dialysis procedures and prophylaxis for PD. Here, we report a case of M. tuberculosis peritonitis in a paediatric patient receiving PD and the infection was managed successfully with appropriate anti-tuberculous treatment. This case emphasises the importance of considering tuberculous peritonitis in PD paediatrics patients who have no history of pulmonary tuberculosis and whose PD routine cultures produce negative results.