Diagnostic challenges of central nervous system tuberculosis

Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Sep;14(9):1473-5. doi: 10.3201/eid1409.070264.

Abstract

Central nervous system tuberculosis (TB) was identified in 20 cases of unexplained encephalitis referred to the California Encephalitis Project. Atypical features (encephalitic symptoms, rapid onset, age) and diagnostic challenges (insensitive cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] TB PCR result, elevated CSF glucose levels in patients with diabetes, negative result for tuberculin skin test) complicated diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology
  • California / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium bovis / drug effects
  • Mycobacterium bovis / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / microbiology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents