[A Young Asylum Seeker with Hemoptysis and Positive Tuberculosis Screening: Not Always Tuberculosis!]

Abstract

This paper reports on the case of a 19 year old asylum seeker from Eritrea who presented with hemoptysis, a positive tuberculosis screening (Enzyme Linked Immuno Spot Assay - EliSpot) and mushy faeces submitted with a suspected diagnosis of tuberculosis. Laboratory testing revealed thrombopenia, leukopenia and eosinophilia, while the chest X-ray was inconspicuous. Acid-proof rod bacteria were neither evident in bronchoscopy samples nor in expectorated sputum samples. However, sonographic findings showed a profound splenomegaly, and laboratory testing revealed a Schistosoma mansoni infection. This case demonstrates that in asylum seekers with suspected tuberculosis endemic diseases of the home country need to be considered as alternative diagnoses.

• Authors: T Stevens, S B Schwarz, F S Magnet, W Windisch
• Journal: Pneumologie (Stuttgart, Germany) (Pneumologie) Vol. 71 Issue 5 Pg. 293-296 (May 2017) ISSN: 1438-8790 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Hämoptysen bei einem jungen Asylbewerber mit positivem Tuberkulose-Screening: Nicht immer Tuberkulose!
• PMID: 28346957 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Topics

• Animals
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Diagnostic Errors (prevention & control)
• False Positive Reactions
• Hemoptysis (diagnosis, etiology, microbiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Mass Screening (methods)
• Refugees
• Schistosoma mansoni
• Schistosomiasis mansoni (complications, diagnostic imaging, microbiology)
• Tuberculosis (complications, diagnosis, microbiology)
• Young Adult