Tuberculous meningitis in an intravenous drug user: A case report

Authors : Haticenur Yıldırım, Baycan Kus, Gözde Yılmaz, Necmi Baykan, Ömer Salt

Pages : 117-119

Doi:10.61845/agrimedical.1457721

View : 50 | Download : 84

Publication Date : 2024-10-30

Article Type : Other Papers

Abstract :Tubercle bacilli can cause tuberculous meningitis by hematogenous spread from a primary focus. A 49-year-old foreign national male patient was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of joint pains, fever, cough and malaise. He was diagnosed with a viral upper respiratory tract infection and discharged after treatment was organised. The patient was admitted again the next day with the complaint of inability to urinate, and suprapubic tenderness was also present on physical examination. The patient\\\'s laboratory values, different from the previous day, were determined as WBC:16000/µL CRP:115 mg/L, and he was discharged again after oral treatment. On his 3rd admission to the emergency department, he had complaints of weakness and numbness in the legs and spasm in the neck. It was learned that the patient had a history of intravenous substance use. Following the tests, the patient was initially diagnosed with atypical meningitis and was taken to the intensive care unit. As a result of advanced examinations performed here, the patient was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis and treated. Patients who experience repeated hospitalisations and exhibit abnormal neurological symptoms should have a thorough physical examination, deeper anamnesis, and considered in the diagnosis that takes uncommon illnesses like atypical meningitis into account.
Keywords : Tüberküloz menenjiti, Mükerrer başvuru, Acil servis