Abdominal Tuberculosis in the Golestan Province-Iran

Background and objectives: Various studies demonstrated that 15—20% of TB cases are extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Signs and symptoms of abdominal TB are unspecific because it affects multiple organs in the abdomen. We identified all GI TB cases in Golestan province (Iran) to determine their demographic characteristics. Methods: We reviewed all new cases of TB, reported between 1999 and 2003 from TB centers of Golestan. Then we selected EPTB and especially GITB cases from the list. Looking up the addresses in the patients’ charts, we completed a questionnaire containing demographic information. The information entered in SPSS-13 and data was analyzed with appropriate tests. Results: 30 patients had been treated for GITB, most of them were women (22 cases, 73.3%). Mean age was 32.03±13.73, with higher incidence in age before 40 years old (70%). 66.7% of patients had documented pathologically diagnosis. Conclusions: Data suggest that 38.46% of all TB cases in Golestan province were EPTB. This percentage is higher than other studies. In this study, GI TB cases were higher than the world reports (3%). These results should be mentioned by physicians and healthcare providers in this area and considered in programs of disease controlling and preventing centers.