TUBERCULOUS PERITONITIS

Abstract

The clinical features of 12 patients with tuberculous peritonitis as the major site of tuberculous involvement have been reviewed. Three patients presented as the chronic fibroid form, whereas 9 patients presented as the serous form. The serous form often began as an illness of abrupt onset manifested by abdominal swelling and fever, without associated leukocytosis, and often was associated with negative tuberculin skin tests. It is postulated that the mechanism for this clinical paradox involves the transient hyposensitization of a tuberculin-sensitive individual.