A Case of Paradoxical Reaction Development during Antituberculosis Therapy

Paradoxical reaction during antituberculosis therapy is defined as aggravation of preexisting tuberculous lesions or the development of new lesions. A 24-year-old female college student diagnosed with abdominal and pulmonary tuberculosis presented with fever and abdominal pain after having been treated with antituberculosis agents for 4 months. Tuberculous mesenteric lymphadenitis was suspected on abdominal CT scan and enlarged necrotic abscess was also present. These findings were considered to be due to paradoxical reaction rather than treatment failure during antituberculosis treatment. Although laparoscopic bowel adhesiolysis and abscess drainage were performed, high fever and severe abdominal pain did not improve. However, the patient eventually made a completely recovery after corticosteroid therapy combined with antituberculosis agents. Herein, we report a case of paradoxical reaction which developed in a patient with abdominal and pulmonary tuberculosis during antituberculosis therapy. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2015;65:306-311)