Case Report Open Access

Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia Overlapping Tuberculosis: A Diagnostic Challenge in Elderly

Pradeep Chakaravarthy1, Divanshee Sharma1, Manjunath Totaganti1, Ravikant1, Jithesh G1 and Mukesh Bairwa1
  • 1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India

Abstract

Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP) is linked to numerous etiologies, including connective tissue diseases, certain drugs, HIV and idiopathic causes. We present a case of an 82-year-old woman with subacute onset shortness of breath as the presenting feature of Non-specific interstitial pneumonia. Chest imaging demonstrated bilateral infiltrates and tentatively diagnosed as NSIP and started on Tyrosine kinase inhibitor - Nintedanib. But she worsened symptomatically and on further evaluation, Mycobacterium tuberculosis had been detected in her Sputum. Anti-tuberculous therapy and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) resolved her pulmonary symptoms to an extent and she was discharged on Long term oxygen therapy. In this case, we encountered a Tuberculosis (TB) case with NSIP where NSIP could overlap the diagnosis of TB and we should have a strong suspicion of TB in geriatric people.

American Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 17 No. 4, 2021, 161-164

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajidsp.2021.161.164

Submitted On: 28 December 2020 Published On: 5 January 2022

How to Cite: Chakaravarthy, P., Sharma, D., Totaganti, M., Ravikant, G, J. & Bairwa, M. (2021). Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia Overlapping Tuberculosis: A Diagnostic Challenge in Elderly. American Journal of Infectious Diseases, 17(4), 161-164. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajidsp.2021.161.164

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Keywords

  • Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia
  • Tuberculosis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Steroids
  • Geriatric Population