Intestinal tuberculosis symptoms, first signs, how it is transmitted

Intestinal tuberculosis: definition

The named pathology is a chronic disease of an infectious nature that develops in the body through the transmission of mycobacteria from the lungs to the digestive organs or through direct entry through saliva and contaminated foods.
Tuberculosis is characterized by the appearance of neoplasms in the large or small intestine, with their transition to ulcerative nodules, the formation of large cavities and pain on superficial palpation. This kind of disease is quite rare. It occurs in approximately 40 people per 100 thousand of the total population. Tuberculosis is most often discovered after death. During the life of the patient, it is classified as nonspecific ulcerative colitis.

Intestinal tuberculosis is closely associated with the presence of certain causes:

1. Infection of the digestive organ with mycobacteria Koch bacillus.
2. Decreased immune strength of the body.

In addition, intestinal tuberculosis can develop as a reaction to the following pathological processes:

1. The presence of abscess phenomena, closely related to the condition of the intestinal mucosa and its immunity.
2. Abuse of tobacco products and alcohol.
3. HIV infection.
4. Presence of diabetes mellitus.
5. Constantly being in a stressful situation.
6. Work in places hazardous to health.

One more nuance of this disease should be taken into account. If you want to know whether intestinal tuberculosis is contagious or not, the answer will be clear: yes.

What is intestinal tuberculosis called?

Intestinal tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease, a rare type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The disease affects the large intestine and the junction of the small intestine with the large intestine (ileocecal section). Most people who die due to tuberculosis are diagnosed with the disease. This pathology is not very common, out of 100 thousand.

Only 45 people suffer from it. Unfortunately, the incidence rate is gradually increasing. This is due to mild primary symptoms. As a result, the disease develops under the guise of other diseases and is detected in an advanced form. The study and treatment of intestinal tuberculosis belongs to the field of gastroenterology and phthisiology.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

Intestinal tuberculosis is caused by tuberculosis bacteria. If the primary form of the disease occurs, infection occurs in a lymphogenous manner, and the secondary form appears due to sputum spreading in a sputogenic manner. According to the symptoms, tuberculosis of the intestine is often confused with ulcerative colitis, a pathology that is expressed in changes in the ileocecal region.

The main signs of intestinal tuberculosis include:

• Ulcers are erosive lesions of the intestinal mucosa.
• Presence of infiltrates.
• Colonization of the intestines, tubercles and irregularities on its surface.

Outwardly, these signs are invisible, so diagnosing intestinal tuberculosis can be very difficult. The presence of the disease can be suspected based on the following patient complaints:

• Frequent constipation or diarrhea.
• Abdominal pain, the localization of which cannot be determined.
• On palpation you can notice compactions.
• During periods of exacerbation, bloating is observed.
• Vomiting and nausea are common.
• There are traces of blood in the stool.

To find out what symptoms of intestinal tuberculosis, the first signs, how this disease is transmitted, many turn to dubious sites and, quite logically, receive unconfirmed information there. Meanwhile, despite the general asymptomatic nature of the disease, doctors still identify the following manifestations of this pathology:

1. Pain. They occur especially often during palpation or suddenly. Sometimes they are permanent, with intermediate pains throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract.
2. Diarrhea, constipation. The stool is inconsistent, sometimes loose and frequent, sometimes characterized by the inability to recover.
3. Gag reflex, nausea. It may occur within 24 hours and accompany the patient for 1 to 3 days.
4. When palpating the abdominal cavity, lumps are often felt. Along with the detection of nodules, the patient feels pain.
5. Flatulence.
6. Soreness of the cecum.
7. The appearance of blood in the stool. It can be released in large and small quantities. Has a brown tint.

In general, such signs can appear either a year after the onset of tuberculosis or after 15 years. It all depends on the correct lifestyle, the general health of the patient and the absence of tumors.

There are several types of this disease. Each of them depends on the area of ​​localization of pain and manifestation of ulcers:

1. Ulcerative. Characterized by a large number of formations in the intestinal area.
2. Ulcerative-hypertrophic. It represents the presence of ulcers with gradual death of the tissues of the stomach and intestines.
3. Hypertrophic. Complete death of abdominal tissue.
4. Stenotic. The main area of ​​localization is on the walls of lymph vessels.

In addition to this, there are two more forms of tuberculosis:

1. Sticky.
2. Exudative.

Despite the difference in manifestations and localization, the treatment is the same in all cases.

Signs of intestinal tuberculosis can be confused with indigestion. Sometimes the disease occurs without symptoms and is determined by autopsy. Most often, already at the second stage of development, the following manifestations occur:

• a sharp decrease in body weight;
• poor appetite;
• general weakness;
• unstable stool - diarrhea gives way to constipation;
• mild abdominal pain;
• increased sweating;
• fever;
• blood change.

Intestinal tuberculosis is manifested by diarrhea, abdominal pain, hyperhidrosis, and fluctuations in body temperature.
In later stages, the symptoms of the disease include pain in the umbilical region, which worsens during movement. A tumor can be detected by palpation. Vivid symptoms of intestinal ulceration are the presence of blood and pus in the stool. The main signs of an advanced stage:

• intestinal obstruction;
• peritonitis;
• bleeding;
• intestinal ulcers.

Tuberculosis is mostly asymptomatic, so it is very difficult to identify the disease and begin timely treatment.

The main symptoms of intestinal tuberculosis:

• the appearance of pain;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• gag reflex, nausea;
• upon palpation, compactions are often felt;
• flatulence;
• soreness of the cecum;
• appearance in the stool of blood.

Intestinal tuberculosis in primary or secondary form is usually detected by one sign that predominates over all others, namely, diarrhea.

Diarrhea begins suddenly, for no apparent reason, and becomes severe immediately. Patients experience 12-15 relaxations during the day: first, semi-solid masses are released, mixed with grayish or whitish flakes, and then completely watery. If blood is mixed in due to ulceration, the gray color turns black. Sometimes flaps of dead and foul-smelling mucous membrane are found in the night vessel (diphtheria and dysenteric form).

Histological examination of the eruptions reveals the presence of granular fat cells, altered blood cells, Charcot-Leyden crystals and purulent bodies. Finally, they contain Koch's mycobacteria, as well as many other microorganisms.

Colic precedes or accompanies bowel movements. Quite often, enteralgic attacks are observed earlier. The pain renews under the influence of food and compression of the abdomen.

Constipation can be combined with diarrhea or completely replace it. If constipation is accompanied by flatulence and painful tympanitis, then it is a sign of intestinal narrowing.

Intestinal disorders are accompanied by stomach disorders: lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Urine is secreted in scanty quantities, contains a lot of sediment and often protein; Indican is sometimes found.

Hectic fever and night sweats appear. The latter sometimes alternates with diarrhea.

A tumor in the ileum is observed exclusively with tuberculosis of the cecum or Bauginian valve. This tumor can be painful. In such cases, a swelling is found, the size of a turkey egg or more. The boundaries of the tumor are more or less sharp; it is dense, produces a dull tone when tapped and has little mobility. In other places, only diffuse infiltration is found.

The existence of abdominal dropsy indicates the participation of the peritoneum in the process.

Symptoms and first signs

The disease is dangerous because it is often asymptomatic. According to studies, intestinal tuberculosis manifested itself even 10-15 years after infection. The patient, unaware of his condition, was unconsciously getting closer to death. This is why routine screening for tuberculosis is so important.

The most striking signs of the disease:

• mild abdominal pain that passes quickly;
• nausea followed by vomiting;
• constipation and other stool disorders, sudden diarrhea;
• rope symptom (pain in the large intestine, rectum);
• cecum;
• inflammation of intra-abdominal and lymph nodes.

The problem is that the symptoms are similar to those of more common ailments. This is especially noticeable in the initial stages of pathology. It is not yet so pronounced, so the discomfort is mild and asymptomatic. A person is unlikely to immediately go to the doctor for examination. He will decide that there is no need to worry, because the pain goes away quickly. Other signs are similar to those of acute appendicitis, gastritis or ulcers. Abdominal pain goes unnoticed, which the doctor will definitely note. Everything manifests itself in a decrease in appetite.

Typical symptoms of intoxication become more pronounced over time. The classic picture is a quick change of state. The patient feels very bad at first, then feels good, and later the pain appears again. There is an increase in temperature to undesirable levels. There are “jumps” in weight, the patient often loses kilograms. The general condition is noted as unsatisfied.

At the next stage of the disease, the pain becomes stronger. It is not related to food intake. The unpleasant sensations do not subside for a long time. At this stage, patients usually see a doctor for the first time. The granulomas become larger; they rot and burst. The ulcers bleed. Sometimes the patient notes a nagging pain in the navel area. It intensifies with walking, various exercises and sports.

At this stage it is necessary to act decisively. The intestinal cavity may be seriously affected (called “locus rupture”). Then the patient will notice diarrhea with bloody impurities. It does not respond to treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Clinical forms and diagnosis

Rare forms of intestinal tuberculosis include: latent form, typhoid form, that is, acute, and dysenteric form, in which tenesmus and bloody bowel movements indicate a special localization of the ulcerative process and which is not always easy to distinguish from other types of colitis and ulcerative inflammation of the rectum.

• The diarrheal form of intestinal tuberculosis is the most common. Diagnosis is easy if concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis is found during auscultation. If the breast is healthy, then intestinal dyspepsia or simple enteritis should be assumed. Here they pay attention to fever, sweating and the general appearance of patients and look for Koch's mycobacteria in the secretions.

For differential diagnosis from chronic parasitic diarrhea, etiological data are usually used.

In Addison's disease, pigmentation is more general and diarrhea is less persistent.

If a tumor is found in the right iliac fossa, then there may be a suspicion of intestinal carcinoma, accompanied by diarrhea.

Ascites is attributed either to liver cirrhosis, or rather to peritoneal tuberculosis.

• The coprostatic form of intestinal tuberculosis is much less common than the diarrheal form and is rarely diagnosed before bleeding or autopsy.

There are patients who, with very strong narrowing, may experience continuous diarrhea. Diagnosing this pathological variety is often difficult. If signs of blockage are detected, then it is necessary to determine the location of the narrowing or narrowings and find out whether peritonitis exists at the same time, whether secondary perforations have formed, etc. One should never neglect examination through the rectum. The tumor gives the most precious instructions.

It happens that the existence of lupus or other fibrous tuberculosis illuminates the clinical picture. In doubtful cases, laboratory tests are performed. With the appearance of a characteristic reaction, one can decide on the tuberculous nature of the tumor.

Diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is complemented by ultrasound and computer tests. Ultrasound examination may reveal enlarged retroperitoneal nodes. In addition, ultrasound helps determine the location of fluid accumulation. Ultrasound is also performed to monitor the progress of treatment.

Computed tomography, in turn, is more sensitive and therefore allows more accurate visualization of lesions. Peritoneal fluid culture or peritoneal biopsy helps establish the diagnosis in almost 100% of cases. However, laparoscopy is still considered the most effective diagnostic method.

The intestines can be infected with tubercle bacilli through food or if this disease is present in the lungs.

• Primary intestinal tuberculosis. The infection enters the intestines with food (unboiled milk from an infected cow), or through household contact, if there are people nearby with tuberculosis. As a result of the disease, the peritoneal lymph nodes become enlarged. They may accumulate fluid or begin to drain, causing the intestinal loops to stick together. Pain and obstruction appear. New growths can be felt through the abdominal wall. In women, the fallopian tubes and ovaries can be affected, which causes infertility.
• Primary tuberculosis. Occurs as a result of ingestion of sputum, in the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Ulcers and fistulas form on the walls of the intestines. The spread of infection in the abdominal cavity leads to the accumulation of free fluid.
• Hyperplastic ileocecal tuberculosis. The most rare form. Localized in the ileocecal region.

What symptoms does the patient exhibit?

What are the signs of intestinal tuberculosis? One of the main symptoms of the disease is persistent diarrhea, which, in turn, gives way to persistent constipation. The volume of stool is not constant; it can be either small or strong. When conducting laboratory tests, tuberculosis bacilli are first detected in the stool. Often, experts find impurities of blood or pus in it. An infected person may experience pain during the period of illness, but sometimes the illness can proceed without it.

Over time, the ulcers scar, as a result of which signs of narrowing of the intestines are observed, and above these places the intestine swells.

Both bloating and diarrhea are accompanied by a fever. The patient loses his appetite, loses a lot of weight, and gradually develops anemia.

There are cases when a person experiences pain in the umbilical region and in the ilium. They are especially felt when moving. Sometimes, when palpating the patient’s abdomen, a tumor is discovered, which he practically does not notice, since it does not bother him very much. It is located on the right side of the iliac region.

What is intestinal tuberculosis? This disease is divided into several types. This division depends on the morphological changes of the intestine. The disease has the following forms:

1. Ulcerative-hypertrophic form.
2. Hypertrophic form.
3. Tonic form.

Peritoneal tuberculosis is divided by specialists into:

1. Adhesive form.
2. Exudative form.

Intestinal tuberculosis: how it develops

The intestines are affected by Koch's bacillus, most often in the presence of existing tuberculosis. It does not matter in which organ it appeared initially: in the lungs, lymph nodes, spine or urinary organs. Koch's bacillus enters the intestines through the blood or lymph flow or through the consumption of uncooked dairy products from cows infected with tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis chooses one of two types of intestines as its habitat:

1. Ileum, located in the lower part of the small intestine. In it, the disease develops in the form of ulceration, as well as the proliferation of granules in a hypertrophic form and narrowing of the intestinal lumen.
2. Blind, located just below the place where the small intestine passes into the large intestine. The initial stage of intestinal tuberculosis is a lesion of the lymphatic system of the intestinal walls with the appearance of ulcers located along the entire diameter. Next, inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes and the formation of tuberculosis granules in the area of ​​the outer shell of the ulcer. All this leads to the development of peritonitis and the formation of compounds.

In addition to the signs listed above that characterize intestinal tuberculosis, symptoms may include:

• general weakness of the body;
• a sharp increase in temperature;
• weight loss;
• loss of appetite.

Often the patient suffers from diarrhea with bleeding, which does not stop when taking anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal drugs. As the disease progresses, the symptoms of intestinal tuberculosis in adults transform into phase exacerbation and subsidence.

Quite often, patients experience pain in the navel area. When changing body position or receiving physical activity, the pain intensifies.

If intestinal tuberculosis, the symptoms of which we discuss in the article, is not treated in a timely manner, then an ulcer may break through from the intestine into the abdominal cavity with the appearance of peritonitis in one or several places at the same time.

Forecast for life

The prognosis for this disease is unfavorable.

This is due to the predominant detection of advanced forms of intestinal tuberculosis, a high percentage of patients who independently stop treatment due to side effects or lack of discipline, a large number of complications, including narrowing of the intestinal lumen with obstruction, and the presence of mycobacteria resistance to chemotherapy.

A more favorable prognosis for lesions of the large intestine, since extensive resection is possible.

Causes of infection

The tuberculosis bacillus can enter the intestines with saliva, sputum, or by airborne droplets from an infected patient. Also, the tuberculosis bacillus can penetrate through the lymph nodes or other organs if a person already has a history of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The causes of intestinal tuberculosis boil down to one thing - the body is infected with Koch's bacillus. This microorganism is widespread in nature and is often found in domestic animals; cows are especially susceptible to its influence. At the same time, it poses the greatest danger to humans. Infection is provoked by neglect of basic hygiene rules and consumption of foods (milk and meat) that have not undergone the necessary heat treatment.

The entry of Koch's bacillus into the large intestine causes tuberculosis.
Another route of infection is airborne. The source of the disease is a person with pulmonary tuberculosis. In such people, intestinal tuberculosis can develop as a result of self-infection, which occurs in three ways:

• deglutation - a person swallows sputum;
• lymphogenous route - the infection spreads throughout the body with lymph;
• hematogenous route - the pathogen spreads throughout the body in the blood.

The rod enters the gastrointestinal tract and affects the large intestine. At the same time, the mere presence of the bacillus in the intestine is not enough for the development of the disease. Favorable conditions for tuberculosis are weak immunity, local pathologies and inflammation. More often, this disease is concomitant with pulmonary tuberculosis, resulting from self-infection.

How is pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed?

Since intestinal tuberculosis is often hidden under other types of diseases, testing blood, urine and stool, as well as studying the gastric cavity are not effective enough. They can only give a general picture of the disease, but not its stage or effective treatment method.

What else is needed to confirm the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis? Symptoms, first signs and clinical tests are insufficient for this, and experts suggest the following examinations:

1. Carrying out radiography. It allows you to detect changes in the walls of the intestine, as well as the complete absence of its work for a certain amount of time. In addition, contrast-enhanced X-rays of the intestine provide information about the location and type of infection in the intestine. Thus, when an ulcer occurs, small cavities form, and when intestinal cells die, a lumpy infiltrate is formed. In any of these cases, uneven edges, deformation, as well as compactions and complete smoothness of the intestine are formed at the site of the lesion. To make a final diagnosis, doctors perform additional tests such as CT scan and ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs.
2. Study of the walls of the stomach using endoscopy. When a patient swallows a probe, the intestinal walls are examined to identify ulcerative formations. In addition, with the help of a special probe, a biopsy tissue is taken, followed by research in the field of histology and microbiology.

Thus, a serious approach from a doctor is required if suspicion of intestinal tuberculosis is detected. Symptoms diagnosis, carried out using X-rays and an endoscope, can be detected in the patient at a fairly early stage of development.

Prevention

Intestinal tuberculosis is a very dangerous disease that requires timely and adequate treatment. It is also important to take timely measures to prevent it. After all, everyone knows that it is much easier to prevent the development of pathology than to treat it later.

The preventive method is vaccination (BCG). The vaccine is given to children at an early age, the next one is given at the ages of 7 and 14 years.

Prevention of the disease in children is to avoid contact with infected people, and also not to eat unboiled cow's milk. In adults, prevention consists of an annual fluorographic examination, which makes it possible to identify the disease at an early stage and begin timely treatment. It is also recommended to maintain cleanliness in residential buildings, ventilate the premises daily and carry out wet cleaning. All of these measures will help reduce the risk of infection with tubercle bacilli.

What to do?

If you think you have intestinal tuberculosis

and the symptoms characteristic of this disease, then doctors can help you: a phthisiatrician, an infectious disease specialist.

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Diagnostics

Blood test data are of little help in diagnosing specific intestinal lesions. Hemoglobin and leukocytes are usually within normal limits; blood counts do not change even with an exacerbation of the intestinal process. In some cases, a left neutrophilic shift, lymphopenia and monocytosis are noted. During an exacerbation, the ESR may be accelerated, but this indicator is not constant. Gastric secretion is reduced; There is a decrease in the content of free hydrochloric acid in gastric juice until it is completely absent.

Macro- and microscopic examination of stool gives contradictory results, which is associated with the addition of nonspecific catarrh accompanying tuberculosis. Determination of occult blood and inflammatory protein (Triboulet reaction) in intestinal tuberculosis often gives negative results.

Altered muscle fibers, fatty acids, soaps, starch, and undigested fiber found in feces indicate insufficient function of the stomach and pancreas and can only be taken into account in case of intestinal hyperperistalsis, which is often observed in tuberculosis. As a result of the latter, the nutrients listed above do not have time to be absorbed.

Examination of stool for Mycobacterium tuberculosis makes sense in patients in the absence of tuberculous lung disease, especially in cases where the presence of mycobacteria in the stool is combined with positive radiological signs. With active pulmonary disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be detected in the stool; they enter the intestine when swallowing bacillary sputum.

A tuberculous ulcer in the intestine is located superficially, involving the mucous membrane; rarely it penetrates the muscular and serous membranes. In cases where all layers of the intestinal wall are involved in the process, perforation of the wall at the site of a tuberculous ulcer may be observed. In this case, a picture of an acute abdomen develops;

sharp, sometimes “dagger” pain in the abdomen, initially localized at the site of the perforation, then spreading throughout the entire abdomen. Severe pain can cause shock. In this case, paleness of the face, cold sweat, hiccups, vomiting, thirst, weak rapid pulse, low blood pressure, and shallow chest breathing are observed. The abdomen is retracted, tense, and painful. The reaction to tuberculin in ulcerative tuberculosis is sharply positive for all dilutions.

Thus, based on the above clinical symptoms, objective data obtained during palpation examination, and laboratory studies, one can only suspect a specific intestinal lesion. The X-ray method is accepted in the tuberculosis clinic as the method of choice. Its data not only clarify the results of other research methods, but often become decisive for differential diagnosis.

Oral method

Barium breakfast consists of a mixture of 100 g of barium sulfate and 200 ml of water. The first x-ray examination after taking a barium breakfast is carried out 2 hours later, repeating it every hour until the right part of the large intestine is filled, after which they take a break in the study for 24 hours and study the filling of the large intestine.

When the intestines are affected by tuberculosis, deviations from the norm are observed: reflex retention of barium suspension in the stomach, uneven filling of the loops of the small intestine, fragmentation, jaggedness of the intestinal contours, persistent contrast spots on the mucous membrane, prolonged spasm and anatomical expansion of the loops, the presence of air in them.

Normally, the barium suspension fills the cecum 3-6 hours after administration. With tuberculous lesions of the cecum, in some cases, its filling may be delayed due to dysfunction of the motor-tonic apparatus of the affected area, which caused spasm in the ileocecal section of the intestine and stasis in the ileum.

Radiologically, spasm is expressed by contraction of the intestine, and therefore a break in the contrast shadow is revealed at the site of ulcerative lesions. In other cases, there is an acceleration of the movement of the contrast agent through the intestine—hyperperistalsis. The latter is characterized by the release of the intestines from barium suspension 26-28 hours after its administration.

With infiltration of the bauginian valve, a crescent moon symptom is noted radiologically. At the same time, a sharp narrowing of the prececal ileum is observed.

Among the functional symptoms, one can note the alternation of typhlospasm with atonic dilatation of the cecum. More often, this symptom is detected after additional kneading of the cecum. Dyskinesia: hyperperistalsis in certain parts of the intestine with subsequent retention of contrast suspension in certain parts of the intestine.

The diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is established when several radiological symptoms are detected, especially direct signs in combination with clinical data.

To fill the intestines with an enema, prepare a boiling mixture of 400 g of barium sulfate in 2 liters of water, cooled to 37°. A contrast enema is given to the patient in a lying position on a troscope under an X-ray screen. During the study, the nature of the filling of the intestine, the speed of passage of the contrast, the contours of the intestine, the reaction to kneading the ileocecal area are noted.

The release of the cecum from the contrast agent after kneading indicates its increased excitability. This phenomenon is observed in tuberculosis of the cecum. After releasing the contrast enema, the relief of the mucous membrane is studied. Normally, in the cecum and ascending colon there are transverse folds, in the transverse colon there is an alternation of transverse folds with longitudinal ones, in the descending colon there are longitudinal folds.

The disease has no specific manifestations, so a person’s entire lifestyle, habits and contacts are subject to study. If there are serious suspicions, a number of measures are carried out, such as biopsy, ultrasound, etc. If the ileocecal region is affected by infection, the disease can only be determined using an x-ray of the peritoneum. The picture in this case shows the presence of:

• scars;
• multiple ulcerations of the colon mucosa;
• abnormal location of feces inside the organ.

The easiest way to determine the presence of Koch bacillus in the body is to do a Mantoux test. It shows the immune response to tuberculin administered subcutaneously. Two days after the procedure, it is checked: if a papule of more than 10 mm forms at the site of the injection, we can talk about a high probability of infection.

Diagnostics using ultrasound helps to identify degeneration of the intestinal walls, which is characteristic of this disease. The diagnosis can be made based on the results of a blood test, stool test and scraping of the intestinal mucosa. However, the blood picture at the initial stage of the development of the disease remains normal and one cannot be guided only by tests.

To make an accurate diagnosis, it is first necessary to examine the condition of the lungs. Often it is the localization of the disease in the lungs that causes intestinal infection. The doctor may also prescribe the following types of examination:

• X-ray examination of the abdominal area. Helps to study the condition of the lymph nodes and determine the appearance of changes in the cecum and other parts of the intestine.
• Colonoscopy also allows you to detect disorders of the intestinal mucosa and changes in relief.
• Histological examination allows to distinguish tuberculosis from amoebic dysentery.
• Endoscopic biopsy excludes the possibility of Crohn's disease.

Possible complications of intestinal tuberculosis

If intestinal tuberculosis is not detected in time (symptoms, the treatment of which we are considering), then the patient may experience the following types of complications:

1. Obstruction in the intestinal sections. A blockage of the intestines with waste products occurs, followed by a breakthrough into the abdominal cavity.
2. Narrowing of the intestinal lumen with impaired passage. Characterized by poor waste permeability.
3. Discharge of blood in the intestine. It may be present during bowel movements.
4. Breakthrough of ulcerative formations. Accompanied by dull or sharp pain.
5. Peritonitis.
6. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Nutrition and diet

For this disease, it is recommended to eat foods that are easily digestible. Patients with intestinal tuberculosis are prescribed high-calorie foods:

• soups (low-fat);
• meat cutlets (beef, poultry, rabbit, chicken and turkey);
• fresh boiled fish;
• cottage cheese;
• scrambled eggs;
• omelette;
• butter;
• milk;
• kefir;
• porridge with milk (rice, oatmeal, semolina);
• fresh fruit juices;

The following should be excluded from the diet:

• pork;
• goose meat;
• lamb;
• smoked meats;
• legumes;
• canned food

Often, patients with intestinal tuberculosis experience digestive system disorders (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), but these symptoms may indicate not only this disease, so it is important to conduct a competent differential diagnosis. When using synthetic drugs, intestinal upset may also occur. This condition develops especially often during treatment with PASK.

If a patient has severe diarrhea, the doctor must adjust his diet. The following foods are removed from the diet:

• black bread, white crackers;
• raw vegetables;
• fruits;
• restriction in meat consumption.

Patients should never self-medicate, as this can have a detrimental effect on their health.

Treatment of tuberculosis with drugs

If a patient with intestinal tuberculosis has symptoms of the pathology early enough, he is prescribed medications in conjunction with chemotherapy procedures. In case of late detection or the presence of adhesive formations in the small, rectal or large intestine, surgical intervention is required. All therapeutic effects are carried out strictly in specialized dispensary conditions.

The doctor prescribes the following medications:

• "Streptomycin".
• "Ftivazid".
• "Tubazid".
• "Para-Aminosalicylic acid."
• "Isoniazid".
• "Rifampicin."
• PASK.
• "Tibone".

If the desired result is not achieved, doctors supplement treatment with the following drugs:

• "Cycloserine."
• "Ethambutol."
• "Ethionamide."

As practice shows, such treatment turns out to be quite effective and efficient.

Features of treatment

Mild forms of intestinal tuberculosis are (relatively) treatable with tuberculostatic drugs. It is worth noting that complete cure is not achieved in all cases. Today, the most effective treatment for tuberculosis infection is a modern combined method, which includes the use of two drugs at once. Mycobacteria multiply for quite a long time and tend to stay in the patient’s body for a long time, so chemotherapy courses take a long time.

All medical procedures aimed at treating various forms of tuberculosis are usually carried out in hospitals specially designed for this purpose. The combination treatment includes taking drugs such as rifampicin and isoniazid. Basically, this course lasts 9 months. Most often, this treatment method achieves good results. In order for anti-tuberculosis treatment programs to lead to the desired result, it is necessary to carefully follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.

Under no circumstances should you stop treatment without permission; the required course of medication can only be determined by a highly qualified specialist.