Case Report: Development of Miliary Pulmonary Tuberculosis in a Patient with Peritoneal Tuberculosis after COVID-19 Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

We report a 29-year-old patient who presented with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) upper respiratory tract infection in addition to clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings highly suggestive of peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) without pulmonary involvement. Two weeks after the resolution of COVID-19 infection, he presented with shortness of breath and oxygen desaturation requiring intubation and admission to the intensive care unit. The workup confirmed miliary pulmonary TB. The patient subsequently improved on antitubercular treatment. We discuss the possible contribution of COVID-19 infection to the rapid progression of TB infection to involve the lung in a miliary pattern, and how the coexistence of the two diseases might have led to a worse outcome.

Automated summary

This case report presents a 29-year-old patient with COVID-19 and peritoneal tuberculosis without pulmonary involvement. After recovering from COVID-19, the patient developed miliary pulmonary TB, requiring intensive care unit admission and intubation. The patient showed improvement with antitubercular treatment, highlighting the potential rapid progression and worsened outcome when COVID-19 and TB coexist.