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Case based discussion
Pott's disease: a major issue for an unaccompanied refugee minor
  1. Cihan Papan,
  2. Ulrich von Both,
  3. Matthias Kappler,
  4. Birgit Kammer,
  5. Matthias Griese,
  6. Johannes Huebner
  1. University Children's Hospital at Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
  1. Correspondence to Cihan Papan, University Children's Hospital at Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, LMU Munich, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337 Munich, Germany; cihan.papan{at}med.uni-muenchen.de

Abstract

The incidence of TB in children in Germany has been on a rise since 2008, especially among foreign-born individuals. With rapidly increasing numbers of refugees from the numerous areas of conflict, this increase in incidence is not expected to halt, neither in Germany nor in Europe in general. We report a case of insufficient tracking in a 16-year-old unaccompanied refugee minor from Somalia who had a positive interferon γ release assay on arrival in Germany. No actions were undertaken, until 6 months later, an X-ray showed prominent hilar enlargement. Nine  months later, the patient presented to our hospital with abdominal pain, vomiting and B symptoms. Workup revealed a paravertebral abscess due to Pott's disease, a skeletal manifestation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease. The patient made a full recovery after a combination therapy for a total of 9 months.

  • Tuberculosis
  • Paediatric Physician
  • Respiratory Infection

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Footnotes

  • Contributors CP took care of the patient, performed literature search and drafted the initial manuscript; UvB reviewed and revised the manuscript; MK, MG and JH took care of the patient, reviewed and revised the manuscript; BK made the radiological diagnosis, reviewed and revised the manuscript; all authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Written consent to publication was obtained.

  • Competing interests None.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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