Skip to main content
Emergency 24×7
98499 47373
Sri Venus Gastro & Liver HospitalSri VenusGastro & Liver
All conditions
Condition

Intestinal Tuberculosis

Abdominal TB — recognising, diagnosing, and distinguishing it from Crohn's disease.

Overview

Intestinal (abdominal) tuberculosis is still common in India and can be tricky to diagnose because its symptoms overlap with Crohn's disease and other conditions. The ileocaecal region — where the small intestine meets the colon — is the most common site. Catching it matters: untreated, it causes strictures, perforation, and chronic ill-health, but with the right anti-TB therapy, full recovery is the rule.

Common symptoms

  • Persistent abdominal pain, often in the right lower abdomen
  • Significant weight loss and loss of appetite
  • Low-grade fever, especially in the evening
  • Night sweats
  • Alternating diarrhoea and constipation
  • Abdominal mass or distension

When to see a doctor

Anyone with weeks of unexplained weight loss, evening fevers, persistent abdominal pain, or chronic diarrhoea should be evaluated — especially in regions where TB is common. Contact with anyone known to have TB, or prior pulmonary TB history, raises the index of suspicion further.

How we help

Diagnosis combines imaging (CT or ultrasound) with colonoscopy targeted at the ileocaecal region for direct visualisation and biopsy. Biopsies are tested for TB by histology, PCR (GeneXpert), and culture. Treatment is six months of standard anti-TB therapy under regular follow-up, with monitoring for response and treatment-related liver effects. Distinguishing intestinal TB from Crohn's disease is critical — they look similar but the treatment differs completely.

This is general information, not a substitute for medical advice. For guidance specific to your case, please consult Dr. Ch. Saikumar or another qualified specialist.

Patient questions

Intestinal Tuberculosis — common questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often about intestinal tuberculosis.

How is intestinal TB different from Crohn's disease?
They can look very similar on imaging and colonoscopy, but treatment differs completely — TB needs anti-TB antibiotics, Crohn's needs immune-modulating therapy. We use clinical features, biopsy results, PCR (GeneXpert), and sometimes a therapeutic trial to distinguish them.
Is intestinal TB curable?
Yes — with the right anti-TB therapy taken for the full 6 months, the cure rate is very high. The main challenge is making the diagnosis correctly in the first place because of the overlap with Crohn's.
How is intestinal TB diagnosed?
Combination of clinical features, imaging (CT or ultrasound), and colonoscopy targeted at the ileocaecal region with biopsies tested by histology, PCR (GeneXpert), and culture.
How long is TB treatment?
Six months in total: four anti-TB drugs (HRZE) for the first two months, then two drugs (HR) for four more months. We monitor for response and treatment-related liver effects throughout.
Is intestinal TB contagious?
Less contagious than pulmonary TB. The main mode of spread is swallowed sputum from active lung TB. We screen close contacts and the lungs as part of evaluation.
CallWhatsAppDirections