Abdominal Tuberculosis: Diagnostic Challenges and Outcomes in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70411/MJHAS.3.1.2026306Keywords:
Abdominal tuberculosis, Nigeria, Histopathology, Diagnosis, Anti-TB therapy, HIV, Low-resource settingsAbstract
Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) remains a diagnostic dilemma in many low-resource settings due to its nonspecific clinical presentation and its overlap with other intra-abdominal conditions. This study aimed to describe the clinical, diagnostic, and treatment profiles of patients with abdominal TB at a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria. We conducted a 10-year retrospective review of patients with histopathologically confirmed abdominal TB at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, treatment modalities, and outcomes were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Sixty-four patients were included, with a median age of 35 years (IQR: 25–50); most were male (59.4%). Common symptoms included abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, and altered bowel habits. Only 22% of cases were diagnosed preoperatively, underscoring the limitations in non-invasive diagnostic tools. All patients received anti-TB chemotherapy, and 19% underwent surgery for complications. The majority (64%) had favorable outcomes, but a significant proportion (31%) were lost to follow-up. HIV co-infection was noted in 19% of patients and was associated with higher complication and mortality rates. Abdominal TB primarily affects young, economically active individuals and remains underdiagnosed preoperatively in resource-constrained environments. Improved access to advanced diagnostics such as laparoscopy and GeneXpert, combined with structured follow-up and early referral systems, is essential to improve outcomes.
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