Abdominal tuberculosis in children.

Problems in the management of abdominal tuberculosis in children are discussed with reference to 80 surgically proven cases. The protean clinical manifestation depends on the site and the extent of the disease and its complications. The clinical diagnosis is difficult because of the vague symptoms, non-specific signs, and non-availablity of specific diagnostic tests. The most common type of pathology seen in abdominal tuberculosis in the paediatrics age were adhesive variety followed by nodal type. Strictures of the small bowel are uncommon and hyperplastic variety is rarely seen in this age group. Response to the antitubercular drugs is excellent however, the post operative complications and mortality remain high.