A child with confirmed pulmonary TB with suspected extra-pulmonary TB manifestation: Role of family physician in prompt diagnosis and management

Diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in children is challenging due to non-specific symptoms such as fever, cough, and weight loss, which mimic other paediatric illnesses. This case report highlights the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of paediatric TB, emphasizing the challenges and solutions in primary care settings. A 10-year-old girl from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, presented with vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss over two-month period. Initially diagnosed with gastritis, her condition did not improve. An abdominal ultrasound revealed enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes and bowel wall thickening. Severe cachexia and abnormal findings led to suspicion of abdominal TB by the Family Physician at AIIMS CRHA Raiwala, prompting a referral to the paediatrics. Pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB in children often remain misdiagnosed, complicating timely care. This case underscores the critical role of early diagnosis and coordinated efforts in primary care to initiate timely treatment and improve outcomes for paediatric TB.